Award-winning actor Juliet Stevenson has released the short film, ‘Every day a new atrocity’, calling again on the UK government to end its complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The film was developed by Artists for Palestine UK in support of the legal campaign by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and leading Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq, to suspend all UK weapons sales to Israel. Although the government has suspended the export of some weapons, it continues to license the supply of parts that keep Israel’s lethal F-35 jets flying.  Lawyers from GLAN and Al-Haq have warned the government of their criminal liability over the continued exports.

As Israel opens up new killing fields in the West Bank and Lebanon, the campaign against the UK’s arming of Israel ‘s military is more urgent than ever. It is reaching a crucial point.  On 18^th November, GLAN and Al-Haq will present their challenge to government policy at the High Court. 

This new call by Juliet Stevenson is part of an ongoing global movement by Palestinians, arts and culture workers, civil society and legal experts, advocating for the UK government to end the export of weapons and weapon parts to Israel.

Juliet Stevenson said:

“Day after day, the news from Gaza is heart-rending. We are witnessing war crimes on a terrible  and escalating scale. The UK is giving practical support to the military which is committing them. This has to stop.”

Spreaking on behalf of GLAN, lawyer Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe explains:

“F-35s are notoriously used to drop 2000lb bombs in Gaza. Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth, and these lethal fighter jets cause untold civilian death and destruction. Through its partial revocation of arms licences on 2 September, the UK Government has recognised that there is a clear risk that UK weapons are being used to breach IHL. In this context, it is manifestly unlawful and unjust – and likely criminal – to keep sending F-35s to Israel.”

Shawan Jabarin, General Director of Al-Haq, speaking from Occupied Palestine: 

“For almost a year now, Israel has been carrying out genocidal attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, and we know that Israeli airstrikes and bombs using F-35 fighter jets have devastated densely populated areas, including shelters for displaced Palestinians. The insurmountable evidence that Israel is committing violations and international crimes means the UK government can’t feign ignorance. The UK should immediately suspend licences to export F-35 components to Israel as an end user via third-party countries and impose a full two-way arms embargo on Israel, in line with its obligations under international law.”

The creative team behind the video said on behalf of Artists for Palestine UK:

“Actions speak louder than words. The UK government calls for a ceasefire – but continues its material support for Israel’s war without limit.  Complicity in genocide is a crime, for which our government must be held to account. As artists appalled by the eradication of Palestinian life and culture, we fully endorse the case that GLAN and Al-Haq are taking to the High Court.”

For more about the existing challenge to UK arms exports licences:  Israel Weapons Sales | glanlaw  This work relies on crowdfunding. The page can be found here: Stop the UK’s profit from war (crowdjustice.com)