With one week left until the return of Parliament following
summer recess, Green MP and leader of the Parliamentary Green
Party Dr has written to newly
appointed Foreign Secretary urging the UK Government to take genuine
action over the Israeli Government's grave and ongoing human
rights abuses in Palestine and end UK complicity in genocide and
other war crimes.
The letter urges Miliband to
demonstrate a more effective and principled way of responding to
the Israeli Government's actions, arguing that it is
vital that the UK Government does not simply condemn breaches of
international law, but acts decisively to stop them,
including by:
-
Demanding and helping secure
unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so essential food,
medicine, shelter, and other aid can reach those who
desperately need it;
-
Driving independent investigations
into war crimes and backing justice mechanisms for victims,
in order to bring about the accountability required for a
just and lasting peace.
ENDS.
Notes to
editors
The full text of the letter
reads:
Dear Ed,
As you will be aware, we are quickly
approaching the return of Parliament following a summer which has
ushered forth a new Prime Minister, a largely new Cabinet, and a
new position for yourself, as Foreign Secretary. What is yet to
be seen is whether we will also see a new and more effective and
principled way of responding to the Israeli Government's grave
and ongoing human rights abuses in Palestine. It is vital that
the UK Government does not simply condemn breaches of
international law, but acts decisively to stop
them.
The need for urgent action cannot be
overstated; the ongoing genocide has seen more
than 1,000 Palestinians in
Gaza killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire came into
effect in October 2025. Access to critical humanitarian aid such
as food and medical supplies remains heavily restricted, and the
displacement of Palestinians has continued as Israeli forces
expand further into Gaza beyond the agreed ceasefire boundaries.
Illegal Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence in the
West Bank also continues to escalate, with the UN's
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
reporting about 190 attacks a month in
the first four months of 2026, alongside the publication of construction tenders
for 1,200 homes in the E1
area.
While I recognise your condemnation of
the E1 plans and acknowledgement of the destructive threat that
settlement expansion poses to peace in the region, it is clear
that simply issuing statements of concern is not enough to make
the Israeli Government change
course.
I therefore urge you to learn from the
mistakes of your predecessors and take genuine action to protect
the human rights of Palestinians, uphold international law, and
make clear that the UK will no longer be complicit in genocide
and other war crimes in Palestine. These actions include, but are
not limited to:
-
Demanding and helping secure
unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so essential food,
medicine, shelter, and other aid can reach those who
desperately need it;
There is significant and growing
support for these measures across Parliament, including from many
MPs within your own party. Indeed, the Prime Minister himself has
acknowledged that Labour previously got
it wrong on Gaza and has
said that more needed to be done to ensure Israel adheres to
international law; your new position grants you an opportunity to
turn that recognition into meaningful
action.
I therefore hope that you will act
with the urgency that this moment demands. The UK Government must
stand firmly for international law, human rights, and the
protection of civilians, not for further impunity for those
responsible for war crimes.
I would welcome the opportunity to
meet with you to further discuss the cross-party role Parliament
can play in securing justice, accountability, and a lasting peace
for Palestinians and Israelis
alike.
Yours sincerely,
Dr
MP for North
Herefordshire
Leader of the Parliamentary Green
Party and Spokesperson for Foreign
Affairs
