The UK has been holding talks to deepen its trade with Israel, despite the ongoing assault on Gaza. Please take action to demand a suspension
Is this email not displaying correctly? View in your browser ([link removed])
Hi John,
In the early hours of 29 February, Israeli troops fired on crowds of desperate Palestinians gathered to collect flour in Gaza City. 112 people were killed, and 760 injured.
In the words of a group of UN experts, “Israel has been intentionally starving the Palestinian people in Gaza since 8 October. Now it is targeting civilians seeking humanitarian aid and humanitarian convoys.”(1)
But the very week the ‘flour massacre’ took place, our government was in the middle of trade talks with Israel.
That’s why, last week, we joined with groups including Amnesty International, ActionAid and Trade Justice Movement in calling for an immediate suspension of the UK-Israel trade agreement and a halt to further trade talks.(2)
Join us in demanding a suspension of this trade agreement and a halt to trade talks with Israel.
Take action ([link removed])
In January, the International Court of Justice recognised that a genocide was plausibly taking place in Gaza, and imposed provisional measures on Israel to prevent that genocide.
But this ruling wasn’t only relevant to Israel. It places a duty on all countries to also take measures to prevent genocide, especially those like Britain which have a close relationship with Israel.
But the British government seems to be headed in exactly the opposite direction. Not only are they continuing to arm Israel, but they are also deepening our economic relationship with Israel in a way which heightens complicity in war crimes.
Britain’s trade deal with Israel, effectively a post-Brexit continuity version of the EU-Israel trade agreements, is supposedly based upon respect for human rights. It is hard to imagine what more crimes a state would need to commit before these human rights clauses would be activated, and the trade deal suspended.
But Britain is now going beyond that trade deal, attempting to beef up security and technology ties with Israel including through strengthening military ties, and through closer links in sectors such in AI, science, technology and cyber security. All of these areas present risks of complicity in war crimes.
We cannot allow our government to continue fuelling the horror we’re watching unfold in Gaza. Join us in demanding a suspension of our trade agreement and a halt to trade talks with Israel.
Take action ([link removed])
It’s hard not to feel powerless when looking at what’s happening in Gaza. But there are things we can do – not least challenging our own government’s complicity in the situation.
Things are moving. Last month, Spain and Ireland demanded an immediate assessment of whether Israel is complying with human rights obligations in their trade deal with Israel.(3) Yesterday, Canada announced a halt to arms sales to Israel.(4)
It’s long past time for Britain to end its complicity in Israel’s war crimes. Together we can make sure the UK government feels the pressure on every front - including when it comes to trade.
Thank you,
Nick Dearden
Director, Global Justice Now
Notes
1. UN experts condemn ‘flour massacre’, urge Israel to end campaign of starvation in Gaza ([link removed]) , UN Human Rights, 5 March 2024
2. Open letter: Suspending trade agreements and negotiations in response to the ICJ ruling on Gaza ([link removed]) , Global Justice Now and others, 13 March 2024
3. Ireland and Spain demand EU reviews Israel trade deal over rights obligations ([link removed]) , 14 February 2024
4. Canada stops arms sales to Israel: Who else has blocked weapons exports? ([link removed]) , Al Jazeera, 20 March 2024
** It’s time to stop big corporations ruling our world
------------------------------------------------------------
While much of the world suffers from a cost of living crisis, the five biggest corporations are earning more than a quarter of the world's population. We exist as part of a global movement to challenge corporate power and promote sustainable alternatives.
Be part of a movement that makes a difference
Join today ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
This email was sent by Global Justice Now, which you are receiving because you most probably signed up on our website, took a campaign action or attended one of our events. If you no longer want to receive our emails you can
update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
Our mailing address is:
Global Justice Now
66 Offley Road, London SW9 0LS
Phone: 020 7820 4900
Global Justice Now: company no 2098198
Global Justice Now Trust: registered charity no 1064066, company no 3188734
============================================================
