Hannah Bond, co-CEO of ActionAid UK, said: “This is an important, though long overdue, step to hold senior Israeli government officials responsible for grave human rights violations to account. But there is much more the UK government could do, and with the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorating by the day, there is no justification for not taking further action immediately.
“Every day, Palestinians in the West Bank face increasing violence from Israeli soldiers and settlers, while in Gaza, people, including women and children, are being bombed, displaced, starved and shot at while trying to reach desperately needed aid. Until the government halts all arms exports to the Israeli government, the UK risks complicity in these atrocities. There is no more time to waste: the UK must use every diplomatic lever available to it now to bring about a permanent end to the violence, release the hostages, let humanitarian supplies into Gaza and ensure accountability for all breaches of international humanitarian law.”
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Spokespeople are available for interview. Please contact the press office at uk.media@actionaid.org or on +44 7753 973 486 to arrange.
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ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty. Our dedicated local staff are changing the world with women and girls. We are ending violence and fighting poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want.