Ahead of the UK government's appearance at the High Court today over arms exports to the Israeli government, Hannah Bond, co-CEO of ActionAid UK, said:
“How much more proof does the UK government need before it faces the truth? There is mounting evidence of war crimes in Gaza. Our colleagues and partners face daily violations of international humanitarian law. Just last week, a nurse working for our partner organisation was killed, along with her entire family, in an Israeli airstrike.
“As long as loopholes in arms sales and export licences remain open, there is a very real risk that British-made arms could be used to carry out atrocities in Gaza - making the UK complicit.
“There is widespread starvation in Gaza, yet aid trucks sit just across the border filled with rotting food. These trucks have been banned from entering Gaza by the Israeli government for weeks in what amounts to an act of collective punishment.
“For too long, the UK government has spoken of international law; now it needs to act. While the aggression of other states rightly draws condemnation and consequences, the Israeli government continues to act with impunity, facing no accountability, despite growing evidence of war crimes.
“If international law is to mean anything, it must be applied universally. That means halting all arms sales to the Israeli government, sanctioning those accused of violations, and standing up for the rights of all civilians, no matter where they live.”
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Spokespeople are available for interview. Please contact the press office at uk.media@actionaid.org or on +44 7753 973 486 to arrange.