80 MPs and peers write to Cooper demanding sanctions on Israel

More than 80 MPs and peers have written publicly to foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, demanding immediate sanctions on Israel for its Gaza genocide.

Indefensible

Leeds East Labour MP published a copy of the letter. It reminds Cooper of her government’s “indefensible” failure to do anything meaningful to curb Israel’s arrogant impunity or fulfil the UK’s obligations under international law:

🚨BREAKING: With @Imran_HussainMP and 80 other MPs and Lords, I have written to the Foreign Secretary calling for comprehensive sanctions on Israel.

The world’s top court is clear. Israel’s occupation of Palestine is illegal – and Governments must act now to end it! pic.twitter.com/bzRzwokgy5

— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) July 14, 2026

In full, it reads:

14 July 2026

Dear Foreign Secretary,

Re: Two Years On – the Government Must Act in Line with the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on Israel

We write ahead of the second anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark Advisory Opinion on Israel’s occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, issued on 19 July 2024. We urge the Government to impose sanctions and other concrete measures to uphold its legal obligations under this ruling and wider international law.

The world’s highest court, the ICJ, found that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) is unlawful. It called for Israel to end this presence “as rapidly as possible” and cease all new settlement activity.

Two years on, Israel has not only ignored the Court but deepened its illegal occupation. This includes recent orders by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel’s army to seize large areas of the Gaza Strip, alongside intensified annexationist measures in the occupied West Bank, including the approval of plans to register land there as Israeli state property.

These examples underline how, without much bolder action, the Israeli Government will continue to simply ignore the words of condemnation from political leaders and governments and deepen its illegal occupation.

All States have an obligation to act.

The ICJ is clear that all States have an obligation not to recognise this illegal situation and “not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

The Court also made clear that all States must “abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory” and “take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the OPT.”

Additionally, the ICJ reiterated the obligations of all State Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.

The Government’s Responsibilities

The ICJ’s Opinion identifies clear legal responsibilities on the Government. Yet, despite acknowledging the Court’s findings, two years on, the Government has still not formally responded or taken the steps required to meet its legal and moral obligations. Further delay is simply indefensible.

The Government knows what needs to be done. It has rightly imposed widespread sanctions on Russia for its illegal war on Ukraine. Yet there has been no such comprehensive response to Israel’s actions in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

We are clear that international law cannot be applied selectively. The Government must apply the same principles to Israel’s unlawful occupation as it does elsewhere.

In line with the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion and to uphold its legal obligations, we urge the Government to act without delay by:

• Banning all trade in goods and services with illegal Israeli settlements and taking action against companies profiting from or sustaining the illegal occupation.
• Imposing targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on all individuals and entities complicit in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT, including political leaders responsible for illegal settlement expansion and annexationist policies.
• Suspending the UK-Israel trade agreement until Israel complies with international law.
• Ending all arms transfers to Israel, including F-35 components and other equipment that may be used in violations of international humanitarian law.

If the Government wants to show that its stated commitment to international law and human rights is more than words, then it must act decisively and without further delay.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Burgon MP and Imran Hussain MP

The letter is co-signed by the following parliamentarians. If your MP has not signed, write to them and demand that they do:

Diane Abbott MP
Lorraine Beavers MP
Shockat Adam MP
Orfhlaith Begley MP
Lord John Alderdice
Apsana Begum MP
Tahir Ali MP
Sian Berry MP
Paula Barker MP
Lara Bird MP
Lee Barron MP
Olivia Blake MP
Baroness Christine Blower
Rachael Maskell MP
Ian Byrne MP
Paul Maskey MP
Ellie Chowns MP
Douglas McAllister MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Andy McDonald MP
Pat Cullen MP
John McDonnell MP
Ann Davies MP
Llinos Medi MP
Marsha De Cordova MP
Abtisam Mohamed MP
Carla Denyer MP
Iqbal Mohamed MP
Dave Doogan MP
Lord Shaffaq Mohammed
Lord Alf Dubs
Grahame Morris MP
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP
Brendan O’Hara MP
Colum Eastwood MP
Simon Opher MP
Sorcha Eastwood MP
Kate Osborne MP
Cat Eccles MP
Yasmin Qureshi MP
John Finucane MP
Adrian Ramsay MP
Mary Kelly Foy MP
Martin Rhodes MP
Andrew George MP
Marie Rimmer MP
Mary Glindon MP
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
Lord Peter Hain
Liz Saville-Roberts MP
Claire Hanna MP
Lord Prem Sikka
Chris Hazzard MP
Lord Indarjit Singh
Lord John Hendy
Cat Smith MP
Chris Hinchliff MP
Hannah Spencer MP
Daire Hughes MP
Zarah Sultana MP
Rupa HuqMP
Jon Trickett MP
Adnan Hussain MP
Baroness Pola Uddin
Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi
Kim Johnson MP
Nadia Whittome MP
Afzal Khan MP
Steve Witherden MP
Ayoub Khan MP
Mohammad Yasin MP
Ben Lake MP
Peter Lamb MP
Ian Lavery MP
Chris Law MP
Brian Leishman MP
Clive Lewis MP
Baroness Ruth Lister
Cathal Mallaghan MP

Starmer’s government is about to end. New PM Andy Burnham has offered only mealy-mouthed words on Israel and Gaza so far. He must be made to listen and implement real change.

Featured image via the Canary