The UK and international law – Palestine is the test

Peers, former ambassadors and senior lawyers say Israel must be held to account for its actions in the Gaza and the West Bank

Pippa Crerar’s focus on action is right (Burnham’s apology over Gaza marks ‘reset moment’ as Labour seeks to win back progressive voters, 9 July). May we add one element: the law. Two years ago, the international court of justice advised that the 1967 occupation of Palestine is unlawful. Keir Starmer worked to uphold international law on Ukraine. Rightly, he recognised the state of Palestine alongside Israel, and confirmed that the occupation is unlawful. Consequences should follow, but we still await the government’s assessment of the ICJ opinion. Steps to end the occupation are needed. No state that values the decisions of UN bodies should prolong it.

Our country needs a rules-based international order. The UK relies on due process for the conduct of international affairs. It is in the UK’s interest to challenge the “might is right” fallacy. The rule of law helps keep us safe, when made effective – domestically and internationally. Lord Denning observed that “the rules of international law … do form part of our English law”. The two are intertwined.

Trade in goods and services with illegal settlements prolongs the occupation. Israel derives economic benefit from stolen land. The government should ban settlement trade, including financial services. The measures taken against Russia should apply to Israel, which is breaking the same laws. Israel should be held to account for ethnic cleansing and worse in Gaza and the West Bank.

Diplomacy ignoring the law is ill-advised. The UN security council – including the UK – has outsourced Gaza to the Board of Peace, prolonging the suffering of 2 million Palestinians. There is a duty to protect civilians. Israel does the opposite. As the archbishop of Canterbury said, we must not look away. Nor do words suffice. The government should act with partners to secure unrestricted access for food, medicines and temporary accommodation – with consequences if access is denied. The October 2025 “ceasefire” has not ended the violence, with no access for MPs and international journalists.

Foes and friends are breaking laws which help keep us safe. The UK government’s inconsistency undermines the laws on which we rely.

Vincent Fean Former consul-general, JerusalemHelena Kennedy KC Labour, House of LordsJohn Kerr Crossbencher, House of Lords and former permanent secretary, Foreign OfficeDominic Grieve KCPeter Hain Labour, House of LordsJeremy Greenstock Former ambassador to the UNEmyr Jones Parry Former ambassador to the UNDavid Manning Former ambassador to the USWilliam Patey Former ambassador to Afghanistan