Award winning British artists – Juliet Stevenson, Khalid Abdalla, David Calder, Charlotte Church and Maxine Peake – have released a series of short films, ‘Stop Arming Israel’, calling for “an end to Britain’s role in killing Palestinians”, ahead of the UK elections.

The five hard-hitting films are the result of a collaboration between Artists for Palestine UK, Global Action Legal Network (GLAN) and Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq. GLAN and Al-Haq have launched a legal action against the UK government to suspend weapons sales to Israel.

The films: 

This campaign is part of a global movement of Palestinians, cultural figures, civil society and legal experts who are pressing the UK government to end the export of weapons and weapon parts to Israel. 

The films build on the call last month from over 100 leading cultural figures, including Oscar and BAFTA-winners, who want Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to commit to stop arming Israel if elected Prime Minister on 4 July.

Background
In November 2023 Global Action Legal Network (GLAN) and Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq  launched legal action against the UK government to suspend weapons sales to Israel. On 23 April 2024, the court challenge was revived and expedited by the High Court.  The hearing of the legal challenge is confirmed for 8-10th October 2024.  In the lead up to the hearing, artists are continuing to call for an immediate halt to all weapons exports to Israel. 

Dearbhla Minogue, GLAN Senior Lawyer and case lead said:

“People of conscience everywhere are utterly tormented by the cruelty of what Israel is doing to Palestinians in Gaza, and the feeling that they cannot stop it.  But artists, lawyers and citizens can join forces to make real change. It is very heartening to have the support of such an esteemed group of artists because it is reflective of the conscience of wider society in the U.K., which is miles away from the callous world of governmental decision-making. This legal action should never have been necessary – but sadly it has had to happen, and our lawyers are working around the clock to bring this travesty to an end. I hope people will join us and spread the word.”  

Actress Juliet Stevenson said:

“It has been horrifying to watch the brutality that is unfolding in Gaza to the Palestinian people, and without any meaningful action from our government to prevent this genocide. To date, over 37,000 civilians have died, 57 percent of whom are children – and a further 3000 children have lost one or more limbs to Israeli bombs. To know that our tax money is being used by the UK government to support this inhumane slaughter is utterly abhorrent. We urgently need to hear the call to take a stand…..the massacres must end, and we must stop contributing to them.”

Actor Khalid Abdalla said: 

“Surely the Britain we dream of, that involves real change, is one in which British arms are not being sold to countries that commit war crimes in plain sight, killing and maiming thousands of children. The evidence against Israel is clear, and the highest courts in the world have confirmed a plausible genocide in Gaza. It is now the turn of the British courts and people of conscience everywhere to uphold the world our politicians are failing.”

Singer-songwriter and actress Charlotte Church said: 

“We are seeing an unprecedented movement of culture workers globally, rising up to support Palestinian liberation and we will be unrelenting until this is achieved. Cultural organisations and creatives of all sectors are questioning how we fund the arts, the ethics of taking sponsorship from corporations and financial companies invested in arms and technologies driving this genocide. We must use this momentum to inspire accountability from our governments and leaders to end our complicity in genocide and suspend weapons sales to Israel now!”

Artists for Palestine UK said of its collaboration with the legal team:

“As Palestinians are burned alive in their makeshift tents, British weapons still flow to Israel. Our government is complicit in starvation and in slaughter. Thousands of artists have already spoken out against this complicity and will continue to do so until they see change. We are delighted to support the efforts of GLAN and Al-Haq to shine the light of accountability on UK policy.”