Caabu Director Chris Doyle is among 54 signatories in an Oxfam open letter, urging the UK Government to immediately halt arms licences and exports to the Government of Israel, as a first step to secure a permanent and immediate ceasefire for all Palestinians and Israelis.
Open Letter To Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron
Dear Trade Secretary and Foreign Secretary,
Together we are urging you to immediately halt arms licences and exports to the Government of Israel. This is just one crucial step towards helping to secure a permanent and immediate ceasefire for all Palestinians and Israelis.
Nowhere in Gaza is safe. The military offensive in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people and forced 1.9 million people from their homes. Schools, hospitals, aid facilities, bakeries and water infrastructure have all been impacted and many have been destroyed. It is against international law to intentionally or recklessly attack civilians and civilian infrastructure – and British arms sold to Israel are potentially being used to commit such serious violations of international law. By refusing to stop selling these arms, the UK is complicit in the slaughter of civilians taking place daily in Gaza.
Bomber aircraft containing parts made in the UK are being used to reduce parts of Gaza to rubble, striking fear into the hearts of people in Gaza, and destroying countless lives. The Government of Israel has killed tens of thousands of people, and forced displacement, starvation and deprivation upon more than 2 million people. The UK Government, along with the international community, must take all measures within their power to prevent the risk of genocide in Gaza.
Everyone in Gaza is in need of humanitarian assistance but the ferocity of this conflict has made it impossible for humanitarian organisations to do their work. An immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire is vital to stop the death and destruction. Ending arms sales is a crucial step towards this. A ceasefire is the only meaningful way to deliver aid, and the safest way to get hostages out. Then the hard work of building lasting peace and justice for Palestinians and Israelis can start
We ask you to:
- Immediately suspend arms licences and exports to the Government of Israel.
- Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
Signed,
- Adrian Ramsay, Green Party of England and Wales Co-Leader
- Aisling Bea, Actor, writer and comedian
- Aleema Shivji, Interim Chief Executive, Oxfam GB
- Andrew Whitley, Chair, Balfour Project
- Anna Stavrianakis, Director of Research and Strategy, Shadow World Investigations
- Annie Lennox, Singer-songwriter and activist
- Anthony Slaughter, Leader, Wales Green Party
- Asad Rehman, Executive Director, War on Want
- Ben Webster, CEO, Mosaik
- Brian Cox, Actor
- Carla Denyer, Green Party of England and Wales Co-Leader
- Caroline Qutteneh, Director, Welfare Association
- Charlotte Marshall, Director, Sabeel-Kairos UK
- Chris Doyle, Director, Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu)
- Chris Rose, Director, Amost Trust
- Christine Allen, CEO, CAFOD
- Clare Short, Former Secretary of State for International Development
- Daniel Lismore, Artist
- Dr Kate Ferguson, Co-Executive Director, Protection Approaches
- Dylan Mathews, Chief Executive, Peace Direct
- Enyseh Teimory, Head of Policy, United Nations Association - UK (UNA-UK)
- Eva Tabbasam, Director, Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
- Frances Guy, CEO, Scotland International Development Alliance
- Frankie Boyle, Comedian
- Gemma Sherrington, Interim CEO, Save the Children UK
- Hannah Bond, Co-CEO of ActionAid UK
- Helen Close, Research Associate, Omega Research Foundation
- Jill Kent, Chairperson, Justice and Peace Scotland
- Katie Fallon, Advocacy Manager, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)
- Khalid Abdalla, Actor
- Lorna Slater MSP, Scottish Green Party Co-Leader
- Lorraine Currie, CEO, SCIAF
- Marian Pallister, Chair, Pax Christi Scotland
- Melanie Ward, CEO, Medical Aid for Palestinians
- Mikaela Loach, Author & climate justice activist
- Mirza Waheed, Novelist
- Most Rev. William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow
- Nick Dearden, Director, Global Justice Now
- Nish Kumar, Comedian & Presenter
- Osai Ojigho, Director of Policy, Christian Aid
- Paloma Faith, Singer-songwriter
- Patrick Harvie MSP, Scottish Green Party Co-Leader
- Paul Murphy, Executive Director, Saferworld
- Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Plaid Cymru Leader
- Rob Williams, CEO, War Child Alliance
- Robert Lindsay, Actor
- Rose Caldwell, CEO, Plan International UK
- Sacha Deshmukh, CEO, Amnesty International UK
- Sarel Madziya, Actor & Presenter
- Tareq Shrourou, Director, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights
- Tim Livesey, Chief Executive, Embrace the Middle East
- Tufail Hussain, UK Director, Islamic Relief
- Wassim Khmaja, Deputy CEO, Action for Humanity
- Zack Polanski, Green Party of England and Wales Deputy Leader
