The Liberal Democrats are urging Rishi Sunak to publish in full the Government’s legal advice on possible breaches of international humanitarian law in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The party’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Layla Moran, has written to the Prime Minister arguing that “it is critical that we play our role in trying to ensure that international humanitarian law is adhered to throughout this awful conflict.”
She urges him to publish any legal advice Government ministers have received “so that Members of Parliament and the public can properly scrutinise the decisions you are making in relation to the conflict.”
The Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed the importance of the Israeli Government and military acting in accordance with international law. A number of international bodies, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Criminal Court have warned that certain actions – such as impeding relief supplies and destroying health facilities – may have breached international law.
Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP said:
“Hamas’s horrifying terrorist attacks on Israel are an appalling affront to humanity and clear violations of international law. We condemn them unequivocally. Israel unquestionably has the right to protect its citizens and target the brutal Hamas terrorists, in line with international law.
“The widespread allegations of international law being broken by the Israeli Government response, whether in relation to hospitals, the withholding of relief supplies or anything else, are incredibly concerning. As a friend and longstanding ally of Israel, it is right that we hold its government to the highest possible standards.
“The UK has an important role to play in ensuring that the system of international humanitarian law we helped to establish is respected – especially in such an awful conflict – to protect innocent civilians and save lives.
“The Prime Minister has paid lip service to that, but he needs to publish the legal advice behind his words so we can scrutinise it properly.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Full letter to the PM below.
The Rt. Hon Rishi Sunak MP Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
2nd November 2023
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to urge you to publish in full any legal advice you or other government ministers have received – including from the Attorney General – on the application of international humanitarian law in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
I declare my visits last year to Israel and Palestine, first with Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel and then with Medical Aid for Palestine and Caabu, to meet people to get an on-the-ground briefing on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. I also declare an interest as an unpaid member of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP)’s Advisory Board, as set out in my entry in the Register. The ICJP’s principal objective is to coordinate and support legal work which supports the rights of Palestinians in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the wider diaspora.
Hamas’s horrifying terrorist attacks on Israel on 7th October 2023 saw civilians targeted, executed and taken hostage. As well as being an appalling affront to humanity, these atrocities have been described as clear violations of international law. We condemn them unequivocally.
Israel unquestionably has the right to protect its citizens and target the brutal Hamas terrorists, in line with international law. You have repeatedly and rightly stressed to the House the importance of the Israeli Government and military operating in accordance with international law.
However, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has warned that:
“Impeding relief supplies as provided by the Geneva Conventions may constitute a crime within the Court's jurisdiction.”
The World Health Organization has said that:
“There are verified reports of deaths of health care workers and destruction of health facilities, which denies civilians the basic human right of life-saving health care and is prohibited under International Humanitarian Law.”
And the chair of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry has said that:
“There are clear indications that international crimes have been and are being committed.”
Clearly these reports are deeply concerning, as is the dire humanitarian situation facing innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
We believe that the UK can be an incredible force for good when it stands tall on the world stage, championing the rule of law. It is critical that we play our role in trying to ensure that international humanitarian law is adhered to throughout this awful conflict. It is already clear this has been breached by Hamas. As a friend and longstanding ally of Israel, whose President and Prime Minister have, unlike Hamas, repeatedly stated their intention is to follow the law, it is right that we hold its government to the highest possible standards.
I therefore urge you to publish in full and unredacted, any legal advice that you or other ministers have received on this issue, so that Members of Parliament and the public can properly scrutinise the decisions you are making in relation to the conflict.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Layla Moran
Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon