Over 100 ex-diplomats urge France, UK to sanction Israel over Palestine

A group of 102 former French and British diplomats have penned an open letter urging their respective nations to impose sanctions on Israel in response to its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territory. The letter, published by French newspaper Le Monde, asserts that Israeli policies, including house demolitions and settler violence, constitute ethnic cleansing and that Israel is no longer a genuine democracy.

Former ambassadors Jeremy Greenstock, Emyr Jones Parry, Yves Aubin de la Messuziere, and Denis Bauchard, among others, sign the letter, citing the UN and other international observers as sources for their language.

The diplomats argue that the recent conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, serves as the latest catalyst for action. However, they emphasize that the escalation in Israel's settlement expansion in the West Bank is the primary trigger. The letter demands urgent action from France and the UK to recognize a Palestinian state and prevent Israel from creating settlements that could hinder the creation of a future Palestinian state.

To enforce accountability, the signatories propose suspending trade agreements with Israel, halting arms transfers and military cooperation, and barring citizens from purchasing property in occupied Palestinian territory. Additionally, they call for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza via UNRWA and other UN agencies, as well as protected access for journalists, diplomats, and parliamentarians.

The letter concludes that these measures are necessary to uphold international law, prevent violence, and demonstrate that there is an alternative to the current cycle of conflict.