PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer was urged today to recall Parliament to “impose immediate sanctions” on Israel in a joint letter signed by politicians in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The appeal, backed by senior figures across multiple parties, calls on the Prime Minister to take decisive action to end the crisis in Gaza amid long-standing demands for sanctions against Israel, growing international outrage at the genocide, and anger over the government’s crackdown on pro-Palestine protests.

Campaigners have raised a contempt of court complaint against Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, claiming she misled the public by saying that Palestine Action had been proscribed due to violence against people, when legal documents show the decision was based on property damage.

Signatories to the letter include Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, SDLP leader Claire Hanna, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Liz Saville-Roberts.

The letter says: “The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is both man-made and avoidable.

“It is characterised not only by relentless bombardment and destruction, but by the deliberate creation of conditions that are starving a civilian population.

“The blocking of food, water and medical supplies has precipitated what UN agencies and humanitarian experts describe as a man-made famine; one that is rapidly claiming lives and inflicting irreparable harm on an already traumatised population.”

It calls on Sir Keir to recall Parliament, impose sanctions on Israel, end all arms sales and back “independent, international investigations into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide in Gaza.”

Britain, it adds, should use its “diplomatic influence to press for the unimpeded delivery of food, water, medicine, and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”

Ms Saville-Roberts said recalling Parliament would “give MPs the opportunity to scrutinise the UK government’s insufficient action in the face of an ever-increasing international and humanitarian crisis, and to demand immediate, decisive steps to whereby the UK can contribute towards bringing an end to the devastation.”

Ms Hanna said: “Our voice may be the only tool we have — but together it is a powerful one in highlighting the failure of the Prime Minister and his government to protect the innocent people of Gaza from the worst humanitarian crisis of our times.”

Sir Keir previously pledged that Britain would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agreed to a ceasefire and revived the prospect of a two-state solution.

And Ms Cooper became the first minister to publicly acknowledge that Israel is committing “crimes against humanity.”

Writing in The Observer, she said: “So anyone who wants to protest against the catastrophic humanitarian situation and crimes against humanity in Gaza, to oppose Israel’s military offensive, or to criticise the actions of any and every government, including our own, has the freedom to do so.

“Demonstrating is vital to free speech, but this right does not extend to violence, intimidation and inflicting injuries.”

Campaigners said that her defence of the proscription of Palestine Action in the article was misleading.

Defend Our Juries wrote to Attorney General Richard Hermer today, warning that her statement amounted to contempt of court and stating the basis for proscription was damage to property, specifically at Elbit Systems UK.

“It is not only disingenuous to present this isolated case as characteristic of Palestine Action, it is a contempt of court that prevents fair trials of those who stand accused,” the letter said.

“No-one is above the law, most particularly the rich and powerful, such as Elbit Systems UK and Yvette Cooper.”

Meanwhile, Downing Street warned today that Irish author Sally Rooney risks committing a terrorist offence after she said she will donate her earnings and royalties to support Palestine Action.

Ms Rooney responded that if backing Palestine Action “makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it.”