By Kulsuma Miah
Student, University of Westminster
The United Kingdom has long prided itself on upholding human rights and standing up for international law. From its commitment to humanitarian aid to its leadership in global diplomacy, the UK has often portrayed itself as a voice for justice. However, when it comes to the UK’s relationship with Israel, a troubling contradiction emerges—one that undermines the very principles we claim to uphold.
Israel has consistently been accused of violating international humanitarian law, particularly in its ongoing genocidal military actions in Gaza and its expansionist settler policies in the occupied territories. Despite this, the UK continues to maintain a close and supportive relationship with the Israeli government. This alliance is not only ethically questionable but also increasingly at odds with international conventions to which the UK is a signatory, including the Geneva Conventions, the Genocide Convention, and the core principles of International Humanitarian Law as outlined by the United Nations.
When the UK fails to hold Israel accountable, it weakens its moral authority and sends a dangerous message to the global community: that geopolitical convenience trumps human rights.
One of the most direct ways the UK contributes to this crisis is through its involvement in the global arms trade—specifically its participation in the F-35 fighter jet programme, which has links to Israeli military operations. While often framed as a matter of national security and defence, arms trading with active conflict zones has been shown to escalate violence and prolong suffering.
Ending UK participation in the F-35 programme would be a clear and powerful step toward aligning our actions with our values.
A Call for Concrete Action
Words of concern are no longer enough. The UK must take decisive action to demonstrate that it does not support policies or regimes that disregard human rights and international law. Some key measures that could be implemented immediately include:
• Withdrawal from the F-35 Programme: Stop contributing to a programme that facilitates military operations widely condemned by humanitarian organisations.
• Implement a Full Travel Ban: Ban all direct flights between the UK and Israel. This would be a symbolic and practical step in opposing a settler-colonial system rooted in European-origin Zionist migration.
• Suspend All Trade With Israel: Whether it’s goods or services, trade must cease until the following conditions are met:
◦ The ongoing military campaign in Gaza is halted.
◦ The settler expansion movement is dismantled.
◦ Israeli military operations cease in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran.
• Proscribe the IDF under the Terrorist Act 2000: without any doubt the IDF ticks all the box to be in Schedule 2.
This is not just about Israel and Palestine. It is about the UK’s role on the world stage and whether we can be trusted to uphold international law when it is politically inconvenient. By continuing to ignore Israel’s violations, we erode our own credibility and set a precedent that may come back to haunt us in future conflicts.
Now is the time to act—not only to protect the lives of civilians in the Middle East but also to preserve the UK’s legacy as a defender of human rights and international justice.
ENDS
