75 UK MPs sign motion for sanctions against Israel

A motion calling for broad sanctions against Israel over its actions in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon has been tabled in the UK Parliament by Labour MP Richard Burgon.

According to Burgon, the motion has already garnered 75 signatures from various MPs. Among those who have supported it are SNP foreign affairs spokesman Brendan O'Hara, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Layla Moran, the only MP of Palestinian origin.

The motion condemns the annexation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank and calls for concrete measures, including an arms embargo, a ban on trade with Israeli settlements, economic sanctions, and individual sanctions against Israeli officials. Burgon has called for the motion to gain even more support in the coming weeks.

The motion notes that the Israeli government approved a plan on February 15 to register land in the West Bank as Israeli state property. It strongly condemns this illegal plan to occupy even more Palestinian land. It further notes the statement supported by 85 UN member states, including the UK, opposing this de facto annexation as a violation of international law.

The motion recalls the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion of July 2024, which ruled that Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal and must end as soon as possible, and that all states should refrain from any aid or assistance that maintains this situation.

It notes that the UK government imposed broad sanctions on Russia for its illegal war in Ukraine but has failed to do so in light of Israel's reported war crimes and repeated violations of international law.

The motion calls on the UK government to ban trade and investment with illegal Israeli settlements, impose targeted sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on those complicit in Israel's occupation, suspend the UK-Israel trade agreement until Israel complies with international law, and impose an arms embargo on Israel.