British Muslim Leaders Urge PM to Recognize Palestinian State, Stop Arms Sales to Israel

Dozens of British mosques and Muslim organizations have united in a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, applauding the suspension of UK-Israel trade talks but demanding stronger measures to address the plight of Palestinians, Anadolu Agency reported.

The appeal, issued on Thursday, responds to Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s decision earlier this week to halt free trade negotiations with Israel and recall the Israeli ambassador.

Signatories—including the London Central Mosque Trust, the Islamic Academy of Manchester, and the Association of Muslim Scholars in Great Britain—called the trade suspension a “step in the right direction” but insufficient.

The groups condemned the UK’s “morally indefensible” failure to ensure adequate aid reaches Gaza, warning of “preventable, agonizing deaths” among thousands of malnourished children.

Accusing the government of lacking a “consistent and principled stance” against war crimes, the letter emphasized: “International law must be applied universally. Human rights and anti-racism cannot be selective—ignoring them sets a perilous precedent for future conflicts.”

The coalition urged action rooted in “justice, accountability, and sustained diplomacy,” expressing hope that the UK would prioritize these “urgent moral imperatives.”

Since October 2023, Israel has intensified its offensive in Gaza despite global ceasefire appeals, killing over 53,800 Palestinians—predominantly women and children. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.