Updated: Over 120 MPs and Peers have signed this letter
Over 115 UK Parliamentarians from all major UK political parties have signed a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, calling on the UK Government to support a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the horrific killings. They urge the Prime Minister to support all measures to prevent further killings, which includes:
- An immediate humanitarian cease-fire by all belligerents.
- The release of all hostages.
- The presence of independent, international observers on the ground in Israel and Gaza.
- Providing unrestricted aid to civilians in Gaza – fuel, clean water, food, medical help and supplies.
- Protecting the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, including guaranteeing the right of forced transferees to return home.
- Working with partners for a definitive resolution of the conflict realising the Palestinian right to self-determination and mutual security for both peoples.
Whilst many Parliamentarians expressed support for the letter, they were not able to sign due to front bench duties and party positions.
Caabu continues to urge people to contact their elected representatives, and demand they support a ceasefire and push for the Government, the main opposition and all political parties to support a ceasefire.
The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, MP
10 Downing St 14 November 2023
Dear Prime Minister,
We, a group of cross-party parliamentarians, are writing to express our deep concern at the events unfolding in Israel and Gaza and call on you to support a ceasefire, end the horrendous levels of killing of civilians and chart a political path to lasting peace for the region.
The call for a ceasefire is backed by multiple UN agencies, nearly 700 NGOs globally, Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury, more than 250 British lawyers, including eminent Jewish lawyers, 120 countries that voted in favour of the UN General Assembly motion and 76% of the British public. A ceasefire should not be an end goal in itself but a chance to end the violence, ensure unfettered humanitarian assistance, get the hostages released, and begin the process for a new political reality for Gaza.
The massive Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, destruction of civilian infrastructure and killing of over 11,000 Palestinians including 4,630 children raises significant concerns as to whether Israel is complying with international law. This must be investigated. The complete siege of Gaza, which is depriving over two million civilians (almost half of whom are children) of food, water, and fuel, as well as forcible population transfers, are serious violations of international law and amount to war crimes.
Hamas must be held accountable for their attacks on 7th October. These were war crimes for which the perpetrators must be brought to justice. The taking of hostages is also a war crime under the Geneva Convention and we join you in demanding immediate and safe return of all hostages.
Israel has the right under international law to defend itself in response to the terrorist attacks on 7th October. However, whatever the provocation, every nation is bound to comply with the rules of war.
Prime Minister, we urge you to undertake that our Government fulfils its obligations under the Geneva Conventions, condemn the killing of all civilians and support all measures required to prevent further killings.
These must include:
- An immediate humanitarian cease-fire by all belligerents.
- The release of all hostages.
- The presence of independent, international observers on the ground in Israel and Gaza.
- Providing unrestricted aid to civilians in Gaza – fuel, clean water, food, medical help and supplies.
- Protecting the human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians, including guaranteeing the right of forced transferees to return home.
- Working with partners for a definitive resolution of the conflict realising the Palestinian right to self-determination and mutual security for both peoples.
Prime Minister, when you addressed the House of Commons on 23rd October and said, “hope and humanity must win”, you outlined an aspiration we can all agree on. Yet, in the weeks since you made this statement, hope and humanity feel more distant than ever.
The desperate, deplorable scenes from Gaza must stop.
Yours sincerely,
CC. the Rt Hon David Cameron, Secretary of State, FCDO
Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon
Parliamentary signatories listed in alphabetical order below. Those who have added their names to the letter after publication are also listed.
Parliamentary signatories in alphabetical order:
Diane Abbott MP
Debbie Abrahams MP
Lord John Alderdice
Tahir Ali MP
Baroness Catherine Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville MBE
Hannah Bardell MP
Baroness Natalie Bennett of Manor Castle
Lord John Bird CBE
Mhairi Black MP
Baroness Tessa Blackstone
Olivia Blake MP
Paul Blomfield MP
Baroness Christine Blower
Crispin Blunt MP
Baroness Rosie Boycott
Deidre Brock MP
Alan Brown MP
Baroness Pauline Bryan of Partick
Richard Burgon MP
Ian Byrne MP
Alistair Carmichael MP
Sarah Champion MP
Joanna Cherry MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Ronnie Cowan MP
Martyn Day MP
Marsha de Cordova MP
Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Allan Dorans MP
Baroness Frances D'Souza CMG
Lord Alfred Dubs
Stephen Farry MP
Marion Fellows MP
Richard Foord MP
Lord Donald Foster of Bath
Lord Michael German OBE
Patricia Gibson MP
Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE
Patrick Grady MP
Lord Andrew Green of Deddington KCMG
Sarah Green MP
Claire Hanna MP
Baroness Angela Harris of Richmond
Sir Mark Hendrick MP
Kate Hollern MP
Stewart Hosie MP
Lord Qurban Hussain
Imran Hussain MP
Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece OBE
Baroness Barbara Janke
Kim Johnson MP
Baroness Jennifer Jones of Moulsecoomb
Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws KC
Ben Lake MP
Ian Lavery MP
Chris Law MP
Lord John Lee of Trafford
Baroness Ruth Lister of Burtersett
Tony Lloyd MP
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP
Caroline Lucas MP
Kenny MacAskill MP
Angus MacNeil MP
Rachael Maskell MP
Andy McDonald MP
Stewart McDonald MP
Stuart McDonald MP
John McDonnell MP
Anne McLaughlin MP
Baroness Molly Meacher
Ian Mearns MP
Baroness Susan Miller of Chilthorne
Duke of Montrose
Grahame Morris MP
Gavin Newlands MP
Baroness Lindsay Northover
Lord Jonathan Oates
Brendan O'Hara MP
Kate Osamor MP
Kate Osborne MP
Anum Qaisar MP
Baroness Jennifer Randerson
Lord Christopher Rennard MBE
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Lord Roger Roberts of Llandudno
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
Earl of Sandwich
Lord Paul Scriven
Lord John Sharkey
Baroness Shaista Sheehan
Tommy Sheppard MP
Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon CBE
Alyn Smith MP
Lord Nicholas Soames of Fletching
The Lord Bishop Southwark
Chris Stephens MP
Lord Michael Storey CBE
Zarah Sultana MP
Lord Hugo Swire KCMG
Sam Tarry MP
Alison Thewliss MP
Owen Thompson MP
Richard Thomson MP
Baroness Dorothy Thornhill MBE
Baroness Josephine Valentine
Lord Jim Wallace of Tankerness
Lord Norman Warner
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi
Claudia Webbe MP
Philippa Whitford MP
Mick Whitley MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Munira Wilson MP
Beth Winter MP
Pete Wishart MP
Lord Ian Wrigglesworth
Mohammad Yasin MP
Those who have added their names in support of the letter after it was sent and published:
Lord John Hendy KC
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP
Jess Phillips MP
Naz Shah MP
