UK independent MPs push for sanctions against Israel amid Lebanon attacks

All five of the UK's independent pro-Palestine MPs have called on the British government to impose sanctions on Israel amid its ferocious attack on Lebanon and continued aggression in Gaza . 

On Saturday, the MPs issued a joint open letter urging the government to adopt a firmer stance on Israel, citing the rising civilian death toll from its expanding operations in Lebanon and its nearly year-long offensive in Gaza. 

The letter highlighted the seriousness of the escalating conflict and called for the UK to withdraw its military, political, and financial support for Israel.  

The MPs called for the implementation of a full arms embargo, economic sanctions, and a cessation of diplomatic backing.  

The UK government's "failure to demand an adherence to international law has allowed the horror we have witnessed in Gaza to spill into the wider region, including in Lebanon," the letter said. 

"Calling for a 'ceasefire' while arming and defending Israel is meaningless and does nothing to bring an end to Israeli aggression."

The latest calls came after the UK government announced earlier this month that it would be suspending only 30 out of 350 arms export licences to the Israeli government, representing less than 10% of the total. 

However, rights groups have said this doesn't go far enough, warning that Britain could still be complicit in supplying certain weapons to Israel as it indiscriminately bombs densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip and now Lebanon.

Ayoub Khan, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, told The New Arab that the letter was a "call for accountability and a reassessment of the UK's role in promoting peace and security." 

"A strong stance would enhance the UK’s credibility as a defender of human rights, potentially bolstering its relations with Arab nations and others critical of Israeli policies," Khan added. 

"Ultimately, halting arms sales is not a panacea for the conflict, but it would send a clear message about the UK's commitment to peace and human rights, influencing both regional dynamics and international perceptions."

He continued: "It could also push for broader international efforts to mediate and address the deeper causes of violence in the Middle East."

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also reiterated demands for an "an immediate and full suspension of arms sales to Israel" and expressed fears of the annihilation of Palestine and the Palestinian population- as well as the increasing death toll of Lebanese non-combatants. 

"We should demand nothing less than a total suspension of all arms sales to Israel," Corbyn told The New Arab. 

"That includes parts for F-35 fighter jets, used by the Israeli military to commit genocide. It includes weapons being used by Israel in its egregious assault on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. And it includes weapons that are being used to kill hundreds of Lebanese civilians." 

He continued: "We are witnessing the total erasure of Palestine, the murder of hundreds of people in Lebanon, and the reckless descent into full-blown regional war."

"Our message to the government is clear: wake up to the gravity of the horrors you have enabled. End all arms sales to Israel now."

On Monday, Britain emphasised that all parties should pursue de-escalation and a ceasefire following Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, stating that the region must pull back from the brink. 

Israeli strikes across Lebanon have resulted in at least 1,700 deaths in nearly a year of conflict, with the majority occurring in the past two weeks, including 104 children and 194 women, according to government statistics.