Sir Keir Starmer is facing fresh pressure to ban UK arms sales to Israel after more than 100 artists including Riz Ahmed and Steve Coogan urged him to halt exports if Labour wins power.
The Oscar-winning Star Wars actor and Bafta-winning comedian were joined by the likes of Maxine Peake, Paloma Faith, Dame Harriet Walter and Asif Kapadia, in urging the Labour leader to “end UK complicity in war crimes in Gaza”.
The artists, some of whom have been prominent Labour supporters like Coogan and Peake, said continuing to sell arms to Israel when its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for war crimes amid concerns about the civilian death toll in Gaza, was “morally reprehensible”.
The group also highlighted an order from the International Court of Justice, the UN’s top court, asking Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah” in the south of the Gaza Strip, claiming this was ignored by Tel Aviv.
In a letter to Starmer, the artists said: “Countries like Spain have already taken action by halting arms sales to Israel. It is time for the UK to follow suit and demonstrate its commitment to human rights and international law.
“Polls suggest that you are likely to become the next Prime Minister, winning with a promise of ‘change’.
“As a former human rights lawyer, you have a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change by ending UK complicity in war crimes in Gaza.”
The ICC arrest warrant to which the letter refers was branded “outrageous” by US President Joe Biden, who also rejected accusations that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. It is an allegation that Israel also vehemently denies.
The call from cultural figures will intensify internal pressure on Starmer to act on the crisis. Tobias Menzies, who starred in The Crown, Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes, and Robert Del Naja, the founding member of the band Massive Attack, have also signed the letter.
Last year, 56 Labour MPs rebelled and eight shadow ministers quit to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in a Commons vote.
Anger over Labour’s stance on Gaza also tempered enthusiasm over the party’s gains in the local elections in May.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has so far resisted intense pressure to suspend arms export licences for Israel, with the Government arguing that UK defence exports to the country are “relatively small” with just £42m-worth in 2022.
The Foreign Secretary has also said only around 0.1 per cent of Israel’s total arms exports come from the UK.
But those calling for a ban have stressed that it would be a highly symbolic move that would add to diplomatic pressure on Israel over its conduct in Gaza.
A Labour spokesman said the party would conduct an immediate review of government legal advice on taking power before making a decision on arms exports.
The spokesman said: “Labour has repeatedly called on the Government to publish at least a summary of the legal advice around arms sales, given our serious concerns over the horrifying scenes in Gaza.
“We have been clear that the Government must uphold both our domestic and international legal obligations when it comes to arms exports.”
“If Labour wins the election, we will assess the most up to date legal advice and we will act on what it says.”
The letter in full
Keir Starmer: commit to stopping arms sales to Israel as Prime Minister
We, the undersigned, write to urge you to take a stand against the ongoing atrocities committed by Israel and commit to stopping arms sales to Israel should you become Prime Minister.
In just eight months, more than 35,000 people have been murdered by Israel. Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s top court, ordered Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.” Instead, Israel disregarded this ruling and bombed a designated “safe space” 60 times in 48 hours, resulting in the deaths of entire families.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently faces arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Continuing to sell arms to a country whose leader is accused of such grave violations of international law is morally reprehensible.
Countries like Spain have already taken action by halting arms sales to Israel. It is time for the UK to follow suit and demonstrate its commitment to human rights and international law.
Polls suggest that you are likely to become the next Prime Minister, winning with a promise of “change.” As a former human rights lawyer, you have a unique opportunity to bring about meaningful change by ending UK complicity in war crimes in Gaza. You would be well supported: a majority of the British public supports ending arms sales to Israel.
The UK must no longer remain complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people. By suspending arms sales to Israel, particularly while its leader faces arrest warrants from the ICC, you can send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate human rights abuses and will stand up for the oppressed.
Sir Keir, we urge you to seize this opportunity to bring about real change and demonstrate your commitment to justice and human rights. The lives of countless Palestinians depend on leaders like you taking a principled stand.
Signatories
Aisling Bea – Writer, Actor, Comedian
Alia Alzougbi – Artistic Director
Alycia Pirmohamed – Poet
Amar Chebib – Filmmaker
Andrew Milk – Musician
Anna Shaffer – Actor
Asif Kapadia – Film Director
Bella Freud – Fashion Designer
Bilal Hasna – Actor
Brigid Keenan – Writer, Journalist
Camilla Whitehill – Writer
Cara Theobold – Actor
Cathy Reay – Author
Catrin Evans – Theatre Director
Chardine Taylor-Stone – Musician
Claire Kohda – Author, Violinist
Courttia Newland – Writer
Crystal Bennes – Artist
Dan Hancox – Author
David Sylvian – Musician, Artist
Davis – Musician
Emily Berry – Writer
Esther Wakelin-Stotten – Art teacher, DJ
Eyal Sivan – Filmmaker
Farah Nabulsi – Filmmaker
Fatima Bhutto – Writer
Florence To – Artist
Frances Stacey – Curator
Gauranga Varia – Artist
Gillian Slovo – Writer
Gina Birch – Musician/ Artist
Gloria Dawson – Writer
Graham Hastings, Young Fathers – Musician
Hanna Flint – Critic, Author, Presenter
Harriet Walter – Actor
Hassan Akkad – Author, Filmmaker
James Harker – Playwright
Jayce Salloum – Filmmaker
Jazz Cook – Editor, Writer
Jen Brister – Comedian
Jenna Jarvis – Writer
Jo Hauge – Artist
Jo Kali – Music education
John Smith – Artist, Filmmaker
Jolyon Maugham KC – Director, Good Law Project
Joseph Donald – Artist
Julia Jackman – Filmmaker
Juliet Stevenson – Actor
Kamila Shamsie – Writer
Katie Holten – Artist, Author
Kerrie Ann Murphy / BEARCAT – DJ
Kieran Yates – Author
Lara Pawson – Writer
Lena Heady – Actress, Writer, Director
Leo Kurunis – Musician
Lisa Moorish – Singer songwriter
Lolly Adefope – Actor
Lucy Bailey – Theatre Director
Lucy Moss – Theatre Writer/Director
Luis Jacob – Artist
Luke Rollason – Actor
Lynne Segal – Writer
Maggie Steed – Actor
Máiréad Tyers – Actor
Marina Warner – Writer
Maxine Peake – Actor
Megan Prescott – Actor
Michael Rosen – Writer
Mike Leigh – Film Director, Writer
Mike Lerner – Filmmaker
Mikeala Loach – Author and climate justice activist
Milly Zero – Actor, Producer
Miriam Margolyes – Actor
Mirza Waheed – Writer
Misan Harriman – Photographer
Nadia Sawalha – TV Presenter
Niall Buggy – Actor
Niall Tessier-Lavigne – Artist
Nicholas Wright – Writer
Nikesh Shukla – Writer
Omar Robert Hamilton – Writer
Paapa Essiedu – Actor
Paloma Faith – Musician
Pam Hogg – Fashion Designer
Pauline Melville – Writer
Penny Woolcock – Filmmaker
Peter Collins – Graphic designer, Publisher
Peter Kennard – Artist
Phyllida Lloyd – Director
Pratibha Parmar – Filmmaker
Reneé Griffin – Musician
Riz Ahmed – Actor, Musician
Rob Myatt – Literary translator
Robert Del Naja, Massive Attack – Artist
Robyn Slovo – Producer
Rowan Lear – Artist
Ruth Lass – Actor
Saoirse Amira Anis – Artist, Producer
Sarah Reygate – Make-up artist
Sarah Shamash – Filmmaker
Sean Biggerstaff – Actor
Shze-Hui Tjoa – Author
Simon Manyonda – Actor
Sophie Monks Kaufman – Author
Steve Coogan – Comedian, Screenwriter, Actor
Steve Skaith – Musician
Suleiman Rimi – Actor
Susan Wooldridge – Actor, Writer
Tai Shani – Artist
Tobia Grieco – Filmmaker, Creative Executive
Tobias Menzies – Actor
Toby Marlow – Composer, Writer, Actor
Tom Cullen – Actor, Director
Tracey Seaward – Film Producer
Vanessa Jackson – Artist
Victoria Brittain – Writer
Will Attenborough – Actor
Yara Rodrigues Fowler – Author
Yasmin Fedda – Filmmaker
Yo Zushi – Journalist, Musician
