More than 300 prominent British figures from the fields of music, cinema, and activism—including Dua Lipa, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Brian Cox—have collectively appealed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cease the nation's arms sales to Israel and end its role in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The open letter, released on May 29, 2025, was also endorsed by leading doctors, academics, advocacy organizations, and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos. It condemned the UK government's complicity in the humanitarian crisis and demanded immediate actions to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
Key Demands in the Letter
- Immediate suspension of all UK arms sales and licenses to Israel.
- Ensuring unhindered humanitarian access throughout Gaza for experienced aid organizations without military interference.
- A firm commitment to broker an immediate and permanent ceasefire to protect Gaza's children from starvation and violence.
The letter coincided with Israel's announcement to legalize 22 Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, including previously unauthorized outposts. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes on Gaza have intensified, resulting in the deaths of 12 people overnight, according to health officials.
As the ground offensive in Gaza escalates, casualties continue to increase. The letter criticized the UK Government's stance, stating, "Those who survive starvation wake up to bombs falling on them. Violence stamped with UK inaction—flown with parts shipped from British factories to Israel—could be obliterating families in seconds. Each arms shipment makes our country directly complicit in their deaths.”
Prime Minister Starmer recently described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "intolerable" and suspended trade negotiations with Israel. However, the letter challenges the inconsistency between this rhetoric and the continuation of arms sales: "You can’t call it 'intolerable' and keep sending arms. Every moment this continues, is another moment children die on our watch. This complicity is not inevitable—it is a choice. What do you choose, Prime Minister?"
This appeal highlights growing domestic pressure within the UK to reassess its foreign policy amid the intensifying conflict in Gaza and the complex geopolitical implications of arms trading.
