First Minister has responded to the UK
Government's decision not to end the sale of arms exports to
Israel.
Dear Lord Ahmad,
Thank you for your letter of 8 April replying to mine to the
Prime Minister of 23 February and 3 April.
I welcome the UK Government's stated commitment to International
Humanitarian Law, our diplomats' contribution to finally
achieving a UN Security Council Resolution, and the UK's wider
efforts to bring an end to the tragedy befalling the people of
the Middle East.
I share with you the grief at the killing of three British aid
workers, along with every other innocent man, woman and child
killed in Gaza and Israel since Hamas's terrorist attacks of 7
October and Israel's response, which has gone far beyond any
legitimate response.
In spite of everything contained in your comprehensive reply, I
note that you have not agreed to my call to end the license of
arms exports to Israel, which means that the UK will continue to
arm Israel's war in Gaza. A war that has left tens of thousands
dead, the majority reported to be women and children.
As I said in my letter of 3 April, by continuing to arm Israel,
the United Kingdom Government is in danger of being complicit in
the killing of innocent civilians.
I find it difficult to comprehend that this continues to be the
United Kingdom's position against the backdrop of the ICJ ruling;
UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council
Resolutions; countless UN officials' statements about the
catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza; and the recent open
letter signed by over 600 legal professionals warning of
potential UK complicity in grave breaches of international law,
including violations of the Genocide Convention.
If this, alongside the killing of British nationals among at
least 35,000 dead – the majority of whom are innocent women and
children – is insufficient to change your policy, what more will
it take?
