Read Time: 6 minutes
Open letter calls on British government to ‘exert its influence’ to secure a ceasefire in the conflict
More than 7,000 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza following Hamas’s attack on October 7. AFP
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/thenational/736ebb26-e270-44c5-96a2-80452d783888.png?w=1110&ssl=1)
Hundreds of lawyers in the UK have signed an open letter warning Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that Israel is breaching international law in its retaliation against Hamas in Gaza.
In total, 260 lawyers have signed the letter to call on Mr Sunak, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to “act urgently” so the UK can “fulfil its international legal obligations” in the conflict.
Signatories include 36 King’s Counsel, 49 partners and directors of law firms and 16 law professors.
In the letter, they urge the government to stop the sale of arms to Israel because they may be used in “serious violations” of international humanitarian law.
US hits Iran-linked sites in Syria, Pentagon says
The lawyers also call on the government to “exert its influence to press for a ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza”.
Israel, which is preparing to launch a ground invasion to the Palestinian enclave, has struck the strip repeatedly from the air following Hamas‘s surprise attack on October 7, which killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians.
More than 7,000 people in Gaza have since been killed in retaliatory strikes, its Health Ministry said.
“We are moved to intervene because, in a region already accustomed to great suffering, the death and other harm visited on individuals, families and whole communities in the last 20 days has been truly terrible,” the letter said.
“The starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare, including wilfully impeding adequate relief supplies, as Israel is doing in Gaza, is strictly prohibited under customary international law … and constitutes a war crime.
“Hamas’s war crimes cannot be justified by reference to prior war crimes by Israel; neither do they justify further such crimes by Israel in its response, which must comply with international law.”
The letter also says that, according to international law, the UK must not encourage, aid or assist others in breaching the law.
The latest from the Israel-Gaza war – in pictures
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/6WVICFZJDFANFPGUHLBRUH5AYU.JPG?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/TCQAFVREX5BCFLSAVUVD2T5BRY.jpeg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/HSQMN65RL5GE7OXJAMTHSTOLQU.jpeg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/3FR7SEB346QHGIQSVCSM7SCYIM.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/T74HOUV4T7YXJE7VYYCFPHECEI.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/VFACFSL3FJGBPIRIRAE6X6LYRA.jpeg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/ELSIFMR5QVCPHFALXTTNAI76F4.jpeg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/DUE6HRAOYFHSDG375NKDV3MUVM.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/E46HOP35MZGKBH2K6RXLH2AZZE.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/KFSS6SHJIFD2NMSEEWOBII4564.jpeg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/65ZIPKJKHJGZ3MIA5CW2ZNDUTM.jpeg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/OW2BBIFWEBNICNELXCEZHUGLLY.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/N3BSRHVTOYXO6R75GK5TOVKKDM.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/JDSWKKDGDFCD5GU4P444SPNBS4.JPG?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/PQPM3OTSBZUAVJT35TYPWXVHAM.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/DWPQLU6XIO7KDMCJDDYOQE7GWY.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/CIV6RLI2SYRPP6I3ZSMKPGW5W4.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/5MBE2C5VROSAGI7UUNKFJWI5SE.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/HQNAD2SYPVVI7BITQEU2XPADKQ.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/FYE2LMWSKDMH2GVD3BS4TGPLIA.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/Y4RPWE6RLTLUH2TOEQXSK3GDQM.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/KFGP5CLY7MQZFHJ26P2CFV2YGQ.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/KN2EQFEZGGJTLLOT4MT47G54FE.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/6KFBMST57KNXUXXVC2F5QQJLFI.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/7TYCXNMH3PO6DK2ZTVI5LW6QMM.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/U24REDLQWSY2M6RXVU7DFKALW4.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/YYEZKYVJBZYU6PAYAEX3JAN6J4.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/IOWY3YMEBMHLHPIXWAIDHWJVAI.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/FGCSOPVDVB7MSMEC7I5OGXJPAQ.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/24DQLGPU54KNT5NDZHDOAZ76S4.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/KIJXGWECRQTJHKF27CZI2IQUCQ.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/NS5XPMRCN7CJU66APO6DH7Y5YY.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/S7SLARVHAAWZQ3SDIZBWO7ZI44.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/YKPDQWOBNBSKLDSLZGKQEDNK34.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/7DCO6LIFZZB7ZONYMIKUBQAANE.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/6W7LTIJRKFE7QIX3OAOWVR3P5M.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/OZLAT75RRXKVQCR7P5XYPULV4U.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/4IZIZZQ65VPKNO3DIITB3MUE3M.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/U65KU2BX4P5XLZVLTCZQWLZXGA.jpg?w=1110&ssl=1)
Palestinians check the damage at the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters
It comes after EU leaders called for “continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need”.
Mr Sunak said on Thursday that he was pushing for a pause in the fighting between Israel and militants to allow aid to reach Palestinians and also create a “safer environment” for UK citizens to leave the besieged enclave.
Leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has also backed calls for a humanitarian pause, as opposed to a full ceasefire, which the government has said would benefit Hamas.
But many members of Mr Starmer’s party have urged him to go further, with about a quarter of Labour MPs, including two front-benchers, publicly calling for a ceasefire.
On Friday, the Education Secretary said ministers are continuing to resist calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East, but the UK is “reliant on” a humanitarian pause in the conflict to get support into the region.
Gillian Keegan said the government needs to “ensure” that there is a break in fighting in order to get aid into Gaza and allow British citizens to leave the bombarded 25-mile strip.
Asked why ministers would not call for a cessation of violence, Ms Keegan told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that the Government would not want to “cross that line of telling Israel it has anything but the right to defend itself”.
“Hamas have created this situation and Hamas are now embedding themselves in the Palestinian population,” she said.
She said that facilitating any humanitarian pause would in itself be “very difficult” and the UK would be “reliant on” it being observed.
“It’s operationally very difficult and that’s why we’ve sent a plane-load of aid, it’s why we’ve sent Border Force, it’s why we’ve got people there, our International Development Secretary has been working with a lot of people in the region to make sure that we’re prepared to be able to get this aid to the right place,” she said.
The Foreign Office has said it was in contact with about 200 UK citizens in Gaza.
“We’re very keen to be able to bring them out and bring them home,” Mr Sunak said.
“What I can tell you is we’ve pre-positioned Border Force teams to Egypt. So that if there is a possibility for our nationals to cross the Rafah crossing, we’re ready to get them in and bring them back.”
The lawyers who signed the letter include former chairman of the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland, Brian Fee, former chairman of the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Andrew Hall, and former Counsel General for Wales, Theodore Huckle.
Great write-up, I am normal visitor of one¦s site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
I gotta bookmark this website it seems extremely helpful extremely helpful
Glad to be one of the visitors on this awe inspiring website : D.
I’ve read several just right stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot effort you put to create such a magnificent informative site.
Dear theinsightnewsonline.com webmaster, Your posts are always insightful and valuable.
certainly like your website but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the reality on the other hand I will surely come back again.
Howdy very cool web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionallyKI am happy to seek out a lot of useful information here in the submit, we’d like work out extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Wow! Thank you! I continually needed to write on my site something like that. Can I include a part of your post to my blog?
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
certainly like your web site however you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the reality nevertheless I will surely come again again.
Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
I’d always want to be update on new blog posts on this website , saved to bookmarks! .
What Is Aizen Power? Aizen Power is presented as a distinctive dietary supplement with a singular focus on addressing the root cause of smaller phalluses
Hello. Great job. I did not anticipate this. This is a excellent story. Thanks!
Nearly all of whatever you assert is supprisingly accurate and it makes me ponder why I had not looked at this with this light before. This article truly did turn the light on for me personally as far as this specific subject goes. But there is just one point I am not necessarily too cozy with and while I attempt to reconcile that with the actual central theme of the position, allow me see exactly what the rest of your readers have to say.Very well done.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this excellent blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
I’ll right away seize your rss feed as I can’t to find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
There is evidently a lot to know about this. I consider you made various good points in features also.
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, thankyou.
Hi theinsightnewsonline.com owner, Your posts are always well-received and appreciated.
Useful info. Lucky me I discovered your website unintentionally, and I am surprised why this accident did not came about in advance! I bookmarked it.
I am constantly looking online for posts that can aid me. Thx!
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your blog. You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an email if interested. Kudos!
Sumatra Slim Belly Tonic primarily focuses on burning and eliminating belly fat.
Hey very cool blog!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I’m glad to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
FitSpresso is a weight loss supplement developed using clinically proven ingredients extracted from natural sources.
Simply wanna input that you have a very decent web site, I like the design it really stands out.
Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your website is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What a great site.
Wohh precisely what I was looking for, regards for posting.
I think other site proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and magnificent user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You are an expert in this topic!
Hi theinsightnewsonline.com owner, You always provide useful information.
Dear theinsightnewsonline.com administrator, Good work!
Hi theinsightnewsonline.com webmaster, Your posts are always thought-provoking and inspiring.
I am so happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
Just want to say your article is as astounding. The clarity in your post is simply cool and i can assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the rewarding work.
What Is LeanBiome? LeanBiome, a new weight loss solution, includes beneficial strains of gut bacteria that work fast for weight loss.
Dear theinsightnewsonline.com admin, Thanks for the informative post!
Lottery Defeater Software is a fully automated, plug-and-play system designed to significantly improve your chances of winning the lottery.
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What a great website.
Great blog right here! Additionally your web site so much up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your associate link on your host? I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Just wanna comment on few general things, The website style is perfect, the subject material is very fantastic. “I delight in men over seventy. They always offer one the devotion of a lifetime.” by Oscar Fingall O’Flahertie Wills Wilde.
One such software that has been generating buzz these days is the Lottery Defeater
Thanks so much for giving everyone an exceptionally special chance to read in detail from here. It is always so awesome and as well , full of a lot of fun for me personally and my office peers to visit your web site no less than three times per week to find out the latest guidance you will have. Of course, we are at all times fascinated for the astonishing hints you give. Certain 1 areas in this posting are in reality the most beneficial I’ve ever had.
It’s really a great and useful piece of info. I am glad that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
certainly like your web-site however you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform the reality nevertheless I’ll surely come back again.
Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Good post. I be taught something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It is going to at all times be stimulating to read content from other writers and apply a bit one thing from their store. I’d desire to use some with the content material on my weblog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll offer you a link in your internet blog. Thanks for sharing.
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with useful information to paintings on. You’ve done a formidable task and our entire neighborhood will probably be thankful to you.
What i don’t realize is in reality how you are now not actually much more smartly-preferred than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You understand therefore considerably relating to this subject, made me personally believe it from so many various angles. Its like women and men don’t seem to be interested except it’s something to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. Always take care of it up!
Dear theinsightnewsonline.com administrator, Your posts are always a great read.
There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
Would you be fascinated about exchanging links?
Hi there would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a fair price? Many thanks, I appreciate it!
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So nice to find any person with some unique thoughts on this subject. realy thanks for starting this up. this web site is one thing that is needed on the web, somebody with slightly originality. helpful job for bringing something new to the internet!
I will right away seize your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me realize so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
I genuinely enjoy looking through on this site, it has good articles.
It is the best time to make some plans for the longer term and it’s time to be happy. I have read this submit and if I could I wish to counsel you few fascinating things or suggestions. Perhaps you can write subsequent articles regarding this article. I wish to learn even more issues about it!
Hello.This article was extremely fascinating, particularly because I was browsing for thoughts on this topic last Wednesday.
I conceive you have noted some very interesting points, thanks for the post.
I simply could not leave your website before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual information a person provide to your visitors? Is going to be again frequently in order to investigate cross-check new posts
I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thank you, I?¦ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?
Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful info right here in the publish, we’d like work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing.
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a weblog site? The account helped me a applicable deal. I were tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided vivid clear concept
I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Very interesting details you have noted, thanks for putting up.
Sweet internet site, super design and style, rattling clean and use pleasant.
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later. Many thanks
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂