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Greens call for scaling up actions against Israel, accusing UK government of complicity in killing

Text of a press release issued by the Green Party of England and Wales on 12th February 2024.

As Israel appears to be on the brink of an all out assault on Rafah, despite warnings against such action by the UN, Red Crescent and others, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer is demanding the UK scale up actions against the Israeli government until the killing stops. Greens are calling for an end to all arms sales to Israel, prosecutions of war criminals and targeted sanctions on Israel’s leaders. 

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: 

“It is clear that the Israeli government is refusing to heed warnings about the catastrophic implications of an all-out attack on Rafah. The UK government must now demand that Israel stop the killing, calling for an immediate ceasefire. Hamas must also agree to this ceasefire of course, and release all hostages.  

“Decisions made by the UK government - above all its failure, month after month, to call for an immediate ceasefire - have made them complicit in the killing of almost 28,000 people to date, 12,000 of whom are children [1]. 

“Israel relies on certain weapon parts manufactured in the UK, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter whose essential components are made here [2]. A Dutch court has today ordered the state to cease the export of F-35 spare parts to Israel. We call on the UK government to follow suit, and suspend all arms export licences to Israel until the killing stops. The UK must also cease all military collaboration with Israel, including allowing Israeli use of British bases and RAF intelligence flights over Gaza.

“Greens would also implement the requirements of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign across the UK economy. This would include excluding Israel from international sporting and music events; withdrawing all public money from funds with investments in Israel; and ending beneficial trade arrangements with Israel [3]. 

“It is clear that only outside pressure will make Israel stop its mass killing. We can increase the pressure on Israeli leaders by introducing targeted sanctions against key individuals. This would include travel bans and asset freezes on Israel's leadership and cabinet members, in particular those calling for new settlements in Gaza and the annexation of the West Bank. 

“Finally, we would encourage UK authorities including the Metropolitan Police and Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue perpetrators of war crimes committed where UK citizens are the victims or where UK citizens are potential perpetrators. 

“There are many steps the UK government could take to pressure Israel to stop the killing. Its refusal to do so means that they are implicitly condoning the appalling carnage in Gaza.” 

Notes

  1. Israel-Gaza war in maps and charts: Live tracker | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera 
  2. Who Arms Israel? (workersinpalestine.org)
  3. This is consistent with the Green Party’s non-violent approach to demonstrating its opposition to breaches of human rights and international law. It is parallel to calls we have made for boycotts of a number of different countries in the past including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, China, and Qatar.

The Campaign Against Climate Change has organised a second protest outside the International Maritime Organisation meeting, on Tuesday morning (10th April).  Read their message below.

The carbon footprint of international shipping is an issue that goes under most climate campaigners' radars, but right now it's the biggest show in town. The International Maritime Organization, the UN body which regulates shipping, is holding talks in London to decide on their strategy to cut emissions. While some nations are pushing for a plan in line with the Paris climate agreement, other options on the table are nowhere near the ambition needed.

(Calling Londoners) We're looking for as many people as possible to join a protest outside the talks on Tuesday morning - information on our website and on Facebook Please join and invite friends! 

If you'd like to read more about what's at stake in the talks (if shipping were a country it would be the sixth biggest polluter), and the mutky world where 75% of ships are registered under flags of convenience, where journalists can be banned from the IMO from reporting who said what, here's a beginner's guide.

If you'd like to see pictures and the campaign video from the earlier protest which took place on the first morning check here. Campaign against Climate Change came along as supporters with placards, while 'ship stewards' gave delegates boarding cards for the Good Ship Paris... and urged them not to sink it! A representative from the Marshall Islands thanked us all for being there and said it was the first time he'd seen protesters outside IMO negotiations.

Many thanks

Claire

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