Scores of MPs and peers from across political parties have demanded a ban on all goods coming into the UK from Israeli settlements in “Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

They have written an open letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds demanding the ban over war in Gaza and violence in the West Bank. The MPs want to halt the importing of settler goods into the UK such as olive oil, wine, dates, oranges and other produce.

The letter says: “We believe that the most viable way to resolve decades of conflict must be based on respect for international law. In this regard, the UK has an obligation to ensure that its trade relations with Israel are consistent with the UK’s commitments to human rights and international law. We consider that the UK’s existing trade and investment relationship with Israel currently falls short of the standards required and urge you to rectify this.”

Leaked to the Daily Mirror, it is signed by more than 60 MPs and Peers include Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Kit Malthouse, Con,, Baroness Warsi, Con, Lord Peter Hain, Lab,, Carla Denyer, Greens, Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru,, Alistair Carmichael, Lib Dem, and Brendan O’ Hara, SNP.

Brian Leishman MP, Alloa and Grangemouth (Labour) said: “ Benjamin Netanyahu ’s government has acted with impunity and the lack of action from the wider international community has been disgraceful. The UK government has said it wants to follow international law but by trading with Israel so that the Israeli economy benefits, then the Netanyahu government’s war crimes are being legitimised. The UK should show international and moral leadership and cease the trading of goods from illegal Israeli settlements.”

Tim Bierley, campaign manager at Global Justice Now said: “The government’s rightful condemnation of settler violence and expansion rings hollow when it is seemingly willing to turn a blind eye to the import of illegal settlement goods. A UK ban on the import of goods produced in whole or in part in the illegal settlements would be an essential first step towards complying with the country’s international obligations.”

Over 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank excluding East Jerusalem, which has an additional 220,000 Jewish settlers. Gazan health officials say more than 48,000 have been killed in the Strip and in the West Bank it is suspected more than 800 have died since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

The attack on Gaza killed 1,200 in southern Israel and 250 were kidnapped and dragged back into Gaza. But the war on Gaza has devastated the Strip making huge swathes impossible to live in. It comes amid claims Israel has targeted civilians and claims a large portion of those killed in Gaza since October 7 were women and children.

The letter follows an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Israel declaring Israel’s occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem illegal. The ICJ says states should: “…abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory; and take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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