Letter to your MP demanding an end to arms sales –
last edited November 2024
Dear
Since October 2024 there has been not only the continued killing in North Gaza but also the undermining of the UN and International Law by the Knesset law banning UnWRA being passed.
Martin Griffiths, an ex UN disaster relief co-ordinator, said on BBC world at One in October, the real meaning of this move by Israel – on the ground – is that children will die. A new way to kill children according to UNICEF.
UNWRA operates under a UN mandate. Israel’s claims that UNRWA is riddled with terrorists was shown to lack evidence by an independent report in April. To dismantle this crucial life giving infrastructure is a criminal act revealing Israel’s genocidal intent most clearly.
There is continual evidence of war crimes – from deliberate targeting of civilians and destruction of infrastructure, which can be seen by the Forensic Architecture investigation (https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/a-cartography-of-genocide) – to the deliberate murder of prisoners in Israeli gaols, for example the brutal rape and murder of Dr. Adnan Al-Bersh one of Gaza’s best known surgeons.
And as of 21st November, the International Criminal Court, as a result of their deliberations with regard to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, has issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister and the Israeli Defence Minister. This would only be done were there to be sufficient evidence to mount a case, so surely now is the time to take some action!
I urge you to do something that Martin Griffiths, in the above mentioned interview, said would help. End all military support and supply to Israel. Now.
Letter to a shop requesting an end to selling Israeli produce
The letter below is for Waitrose, written and sent to them online on 26th November 2024. Each shop will have its own circumstances. Please adapt as you see fit.
Waitrose has been asked many times by members of Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign to engage with the local management about stocking of products from Israel but to no avail.
The issue is on two counts. First that much of the produce labelled as Israeli will come from Occupied Land and is not the property of Israeli citizens or companies to sell. By purchasing these products Waitrose is on a involved in the supply of stolen goods. Second, as I made clear to you on Saturday the Rome Statute – which is the constitution of the International Criminal Court – has an article expressly defining individual responsibility for aiding abetting those who are carrying out war crimes.
In the wake of the arrest warrant issued by that court for the Prime Minister of Israel and the Defence Minister of Israel, it has never been clearer that by stocking Israeli produce and engaging with the Israeli economy, Waitrose are contravening this clause. I have reported this crime to the police.
Quite apart from the legal position there is also of course questionable moral position of dealing with Israel at this time. A company such as Waitrose the has such clear statements about its supply chain should be looking at this. Waitrose also states on its website it never stops asking questions. I would say, it looks like in this matter, it has.
Should you wish to discuss this please do not hesitate to get in touch.