Successes so far:
Summary
We asked the Government, through David Lammy, the new Foreign Secretary to change its predecessor’s policy now in several ways, consistent with the comprehensive Action Points produced after our annual conference in June. The results so far are:
- Restore British Government funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency √ done 19/07/
- Review officials’ advice on Israel’s compliance with International Humanitarian Law (relevant to suspension of British arms transfers) √ initiated, decision 2/09/24 to suspend 30 arms licences
- Retract our previous Government’s intervention at the International Criminal Court seeking to interfere with its independence by questioning its right to issue arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime and Defence Ministers √ done 26/07/24
Details
UNRWA Funding– Foreign Secretary David Lammy restored UK funding, allocating £21m towards UNRWA’s flash appeal for Gaza and the West Bank, which focuses its resources on emergency food, shelter and other support for 3 million people; as well as its wider work supporting 6 million Palestinian refugees across the region. He described UNRWA as “absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can get aid into Gaza at the scale needed.”
Review legal advice on Israel’s compliance with International Humanitarian Law– a comprehensive review of Israel’s compliance with IHL, involving the new Attorney General, is under way. Relevant to arms sales, but also transfer of intelligence from RAF surveillance flights.
Support ICC and ICJ – in response to the landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice of the illegality of Israel’s Occupation, the FCDO said: “We have received the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on Friday 19 July and are considering it carefully before responding. The UK respects the independence of the ICJ.
In relation to the ICC prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for war crimes, the UK government has announced that the objection proposed by the previous government will not be pursued “in line with our longstanding position that this is a matter for the court to decide on”. Arrest warrants against senior Hamas leaders are also under consideration by the ICC, but are unaffected by either the previous government’s objection or its removal.
The Government’s actions are a welcome response to the representations made by Balfour Project and many other organisations, but further progress is essential to deliver an end to the violence in Gaza and the West Bank, immediate access for humanitarian aid, a plan for reconstruction and a guarantee of Palestinian self-determination. Balfour Project will continue to press the government to deliver on the rest of our Action Points, and will update you on further progress.
Andrew Whitley
Chair, Balfour Project