Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is under pressure to halt a trade agreement with Israel following the enactment of a controversial death penalty law deemed discriminatory by critics.
Several prominent charities, including Oxfam UK and ActionAid UK, are advocating for the suspension of the deal until what they describe as widespread and systematic breaches of international law are addressed. The law in question, passed by Israel’s parliament, allows for the death penalty to be imposed on Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis.
According to ActionAid’s Jamil Sawalmeh, the legislation is part of a broader pattern of oppression against Palestinians, citing previous actions such as land confiscation and punitive house demolitions. Humanitarian and human rights organizations, such as War on Want and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the law as discriminatory and targeting Palestinians disproportionately.
The joint statement released by these groups calls on the UK government to take decisive action, including suspending the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement due to Israel’s alleged violation of human rights clauses. They also urge support for Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations.
The law, which makes hanging the default punishment for Palestinians in the West Bank convicted of nationalistic crimes, was personally endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset. Critics argue that the law effectively excludes Jewish citizens from its scope, focusing primarily on Palestinian citizens.
The far-right minister of national security in Israel, Itamar Ben-Gvir, hailed the law as a long-overdue show of strength and national pride, emphasizing the severity of the punishment for terrorists. In response to the legislation, the UK previously halted negotiations on a free trade agreement with Israel, citing concerns over the conduct of the conflict in Gaza.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, along with counterparts from Australia, Germany, France, Italy, and New Zealand, expressed deep concern over the bill’s discriminatory nature and its potential impact on Israel’s democratic principles. The international ministers urged Israeli lawmakers to reconsider the law, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic values.
