For several weeks you have reported the killings by Israeli forces in Gaza. Each week Israel has placed troops on the security border with Gaza with the intention to shoot to kill Palestinians demonstrating. So far 35 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,500 injured with live ammunition. Instructions to shoot to kill were given in advance (Deaths in Gaza will haunt Israeli snipers, Letters, 13 April; Letters, 17 April).

It is right for the British government to comment on hostile actions by foreign states in breach of international law wherever they occur – on UK territory, in Syria or in Yemen. But the silence of the prime minister and the foreign secretary on Israel’s premeditated killings is deafening. Moreover, the UK government continues to approve arms exports to Israel despite its own guidelines prohibiting any sales of weapons that risk being used in violation of international law.

We call on the government to condemn publicly Israel’s actions; to support an immediate UN investigation into the killings; and to ensure UK arms, finance and trade are not used to support Israel’s unlawful actions. The British government must fulfil its responsibilities to hold Israel accountable and to bring about the end of Israel’s unlawful siege and the military occupation of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Hugh Lanning Chair, Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Ben Jamal Director, Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Grahame Morris MP Chair, Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East

Tommy Sheppard MP, on behalf of SNP Friends of Palestine

John Kelly Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine

Owen Tudor Head, EU and International Relations, TUC,

Clare Short Former secretary of state for international development

Norman Warner House of Lords

Jenny Tonge House of Lords

Keith Taylor MEP

David Martin MEP

Francie Molloy MP (Sinn Féin)

Elisha McCallion MP (Sinn Féin)

Michelle Gildernew MP (Sinn Féin)

Paul Maskey MP (Sinn Féin)

Chris Hazzard MP (Sinn Féin)

Mickey Brady MP (Sinn Féin)

Len McCluskey General secretary, Unite the Union

Kevin Courtney General secretary, National Union of Teachers

Tim Roache General secretary, GMB

Mick Whelan General secretary, Aslef

Manuel Cortes General secretary, TSSA

Mick Cash General secretary, RMT

Dave Harvey NUT

Bert Schouwenburg International officer, GMB

Glyn Secker Executive committee, Jews for Justice for Palestinians

Dr Anas Tikriti President, Muslim Association of Britain

Attalah Said Chair, British Palestinian Policy Council

Ismail Patel Chair, Friends of Al Aqsa

Zaher Birawi Chair, Europal Forum

Dr Hafiz Alkarmi Chair, Palestinian Forum in Britain

Chris Rose Director, Amos Trust

Pat Gaffney General secretary, Pax Christi

Kate Hudson General secretary, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Leah Levane Co-chair, Jewish Voice for Labour

Mike Cushman Chair, Free Speech on Israel

Professor Karma Nabulsi

Professor Jonathan Rosenhead

Victoria Brittain

Lowkey

Ahdaf Soueif

Dave Randal

Geoffrey Bindman QC

Miranda Pinch

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