Utolsó frissítés: 2026.07.07. — Szerző: Anti-Propaganda News Blog
More than 70 British lawmakers say the Israeli prime minister and his deputy are responsible for the "systemic and well-documented torture of Palestinian civilians.".
Dozens of British lawmakers have urged the British government to sanction Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Justice Minister over Israeli abuses against Palestinian civilians.
Sky News reports that at least 71 MPs and peers from across the political spectrum signed a letter last week addressed to British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The letter states that the "systematic and well-documented torture of Palestinian civilians is the responsibility of the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Netanyahu.".
The initiative was led by Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, and the letter's signatories include 30 MPs and seven members of the upper house from the governing Labour Party.
Lawmakers urged Cooper to „help end impunity” by imposing sanctions on Netanyahu and Yariv Levin, who also serves as deputy prime minister, justice minister and interior minister.
The letter states that sanctions imposed last year on right-wing ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Szmotrics – which they „welcomed” – „did little to change the Israeli government’s attitude towards Palestinian prisoners,” adding that the situation has „escalated since then, with almost complete impunity.”.
The letter cites a February UN report that states that „torture has become an integral part of the domination and punishment of Palestinian men, women and children, both through abuses in detention and through a relentless campaign of forced displacement, mass killings, deprivation and the destruction of all means of life support.”.
Dropping rape charges The letter also mentions the fact that Netanyahu praised the decision a few months ago to drop charges in the alleged rape of a Palestinian prisoner by Israeli troops.
The MPs also mention that two months ago, when the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza was intercepted by Israeli forces, British citizens were detained in international waters.
The letter was signed by lawmakers from the Green Party, Plaid Cymru, Sinn Féin, SDLP, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, as well as a Conservative MP.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Sky News: „Reports of ill-treatment of detainees by Israeli forces are disgraceful and we have raised this issue with the Israeli government.”
„All detainees must be treated with dignity and in full compliance with international law, and any allegations of torture or ill-treatment must be thoroughly investigated. The UK continues to call on the Israeli government to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate and unrestricted access to all detention facilities.”
„It is completely unacceptable that hundreds of Palestinian children have reportedly been held in Israeli custody for months without charge.”
In March, Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, stated in a report to the UN Human Rights Council that „the Israeli prison system has degenerated into a laboratory of calculated cruelty,” where acts committed include the rape of Palestinians with bottles, metal rods, and knives.
Since the massacre in Gaza began in October 2023, more than 100 Palestinian prisoners have reportedly died in Israeli captivity.
However, it is widely believed that this figure is an underestimate and that the real number may be much higher.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Gaza since October 2023.
Written by: MEE staff
