Over 70 UK Parliamentarians from all political parties, Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords, have written to the Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon James Cleverly MP, condemning Israeli plans to forcibly evict and forcibly displace over 1,000 Palestinians in Masafer Yatta in the South Hebron Hills, and calling for UK action to stop these plans. The forcible transfer of protected persons in occupied territory constitutes a war crime.
In the letter, they urge the UK Government "to do more than voice concerns or even condemnation", and that with various actions such as the annexationist policies of the Israeli government, including forced evictions and forced dispossessions of Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta, Khan al Ahmar and elsewhere across occupied Palestinian territory, "it cannot be business as usual with the United Kingdom." They conclude: "It is precisely because the Israeli government is not held accountable for its illegal actions and violations of international law that it continues to pursue such policies with ever increasing vigour. It is time for a line to be drawn to put this to an end."
A response was received from Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, on 26 February 2023, which can be read below.
Dear Secretary of State,
We are writing to you regarding the Israeli plan to forcibly evict and dispossess over 1,000 Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta in the South Hebron Hills of the West Bank. If this proceeds, it would be one of the largest single forced displacements of West Bank Palestinians since the Israeli occupation began 55 years ago.
This would constitute a grave breach of international law. The forcible transfer of protected persons in occupied territory constitutes a war crime. The Palestinians in Masafer Yatta have lived there prior to the military occupation and before Israel declared a military zone, Firing Zone 918. Palestinians were already expelled once from Masafer Yatta in 1999. They were allowed to return to their homes but continue to live in constant fear of forced expulsion and the demolition of their homes, livestock pens, toilets, water cisterns, solar panels and other buildings, and destruction of their livelihoods. Since 2006, Israel has already demolished 66 Palestinian residential buildings. The Israeli authorities even demolished a donor funded school in November 2022.
We appreciate that the government has rightly raised this issue and that both Lord Ahmad and his predecessor as Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Amanda Milling have personally visited communities in Masafer Yatta under threat. This is helpful in raising awareness of this issue.
But given the imminent threat of action, which would be a further clear violation of international law, we urge the government to do more than voice concerns or even condemnation. Other alarming statements and measures carried out and threatened by Israel’s new government also cannot be ignored not least stated policies that amount to annexation of occupied territory. International inaction on Masafer Yatta will only encourage further crimes elsewhere.
Only a clear and decisive message that should such evictions take place at Masafer Yatta or indeed elsewhere in the West Bank such as at Khan Al Ahmar or Silwan, it cannot be business as usual with the United Kingdom. It is precisely because the Israeli government is not held accountable for its illegal actions and violations of international law that it continues to pursue such policies with ever increasing vigour. It is time for a line to be drawn to put this to an end.
Julie Elliott MP, co-Chair Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group
Rt Hon Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, co-Chair Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group
The full list of signatories can be found here:
Julie Elliott MP, co-Chair Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group
Rt Hon Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, co-Chair Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group
Debbie Abrahams MP
Clive Betts MP
Baroness Tessa Blackstone
Olivia Blake MP
Paul Blomfield MP
Baroness Christine Blower
Crispin Blunt MP
Steven Bonnar MP
Rt Hon Ben Bradshaw MP
Deidre Brock MP
Alan Brown MP
Richard Burgon MP
Amy Callaghan MP
Rt Hon Lord Menzies Campbell of Pittenweem KC
Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP
Sarah Champion MP
Joanna Cherry KC MP
Daisy Cooper MP
Rt Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP
Wayne David MP
Martyn Day MP
Marsha De Cordova MP
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP
Dave Doogan MP
Allan Dorrans MP
Dr Stephen Farry MP
Patrick Grady MP
Lord Peter Hain
Drew Hendry MP
Lord John Hendy KC
Baroness Fiona Hodgson of Abinger
Stewart Hosie MP
Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece
Baroness Barbara Janke
Kim Johnson MP
Ben Lake MP
Pauline Latham MP
Chris Law MP
Kim Leadbeater MP
David Linden MP
Baroness Ruth Lister of Burtersett
Sir Tony Lloyd MP
Caroline Lucas MP
Kenny MacAskill MP
Angus Brendan MacNeil MP
Andy McDonald MP
Stuart McDonald MP
Anne McLaughlin MP
Gavin Newlands MP
John Nicolson MP
Lord Jonny Oates
Brendan O’Hara MP
Kate Osamor MP
Lord Jeremy Purvis of Tweed
Anum Qaisar MP
Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP
Andrew Selous MP
Baroness Shas Sheehan
Tommy Sheppard MP
Rt Hon Lord Nicholas Soames of Fletching
Zarah Sultana MP
Sam Tarry MP
Owen Thompson MP
Richard Thomson MP
Rt Hon Lord Norman Warner
Dr. Philippa Whitford MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Hywel Williams MP
Lord Stewart Wood of Anfield
The following Parliamentarians have added their support for the letter after it was sent:
Claudia Webbe MP
A response was received from Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, on 26 February 2023