THE UNITED NATIONS resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza must prompt a “shift in political pressure,” including an arms embargo and a permanent end to bombings, campaigners have urged.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today that Britain was “pleased to support the resolution” because it was consistent with its position — despite attempts by some Tory MPs in Parliament to continue to vilify calls for a ceasefire, saying the UN resolution would undermine efforts to free hostages from Hamas.
The resolution presses for a ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan only; it is the first time the UN has called for a halt to the fighting.
Amnesty International UK activists in Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu masks today renamed the road outside the Israeli embassy in London “Genocide Avenue” to draw attention to mounting concerns that Israel may well be committing genocide in Gaza.
The rights group’s secretary-general Agnes Callamard said: “[The UN] resolution must be accompanied by a shift in political pressure, including an immediate and comprehensive arms embargo, to lead to a permanent halt in the fighting and a change to the harrowing situation on the ground in Gaza in the longer term.”
Since 2015, Britain has licensed more than £487 million worth of arms to Israel in single-issue licences.
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary Kate Hudson said the resolution was a shift in position by Britain and the United States “forced on them by the sheer barbarity of what Israel is doing and the scale of the global movement against it.”
She said: “Now we need the UN security council to call for and enforce a permanent ceasefire. Central to this must be an immediate embargo on arms to Israel.
“To stop the killing we must stop the weapons. And it needs to be done now.”
Ms Hudson said that without concrete action to stop the genocide, Washingston’s abstention from the vote is “merely a slap on the wrist for Netanyahu, who has doubled down on his rogue behaviour.”
Oxfam has launched a petition to demand an end to Britain’s arms sales to Israel, reading: “British arms sold to Israel are potentially being used to commit serious violations of international law.
“By refusing to stop selling these arms, the UK is complicit in the slaughter of civilians taking place daily in Gaza.”
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather in London on Saturday as part of continuing calls for a permanent ceasefire.
Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German said: “More than anything, the UN security council resolution was the product of our mass protests and the popular disgust around the world at Israel's genocide in Gaza.
“But as we are seeing from Netanyahu’s and the Israeli Defence Force’s defiant response to the vote, including continued heavy bombardment of Rafah, it is going to take a lot more pressure to make a ceasefire a reality.”
Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal said: “The security council resolution is welcome but does not go far enough.
“The fact that for the first time since the Obama administration the US has not vetoed a resolution critical of Israel and the UK voted in favour is testament to the public pressure which has been mobilised for a ceasefire to end Israel’s genocide and emphasises Israel’s increasing isolation within the international community.
“But to matter, the resolution must be enforced and real pressure must be placed on Israel for a permanent ceasefire and not a temporary pause, which merely grants Palestinians a stay of execution.”
