Letter on the International Court of Justice’s landmark Advisory Opinion on Israel’s occupation

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  The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP

  Secretary of State for Foreign,

  Commonwealth and Development Affairs

  King Charles Street

  London SW1A 2AH

  (sent by email)

  14 July 2026

  Dear Foreign Secretary,

  Re: Two Years On - the Government Must Act in Line with the International Court of Justice’s

  Advisory Opinion on Israel

  We write ahead of the second anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark

  Advisory Opinion on Israel’s occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, issued on 19 July

  2024. We urge the Government to impose sanctions and other concrete measures to uphold its legal

  obligations under this ruling and wider international law.

  The world’s highest court, the ICJ, found that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied

  Palestinian Territory (OPT) is unlawful. It called for Israel to end this presence “as rapidly as

  possible” and cease all new settlement activity.

  Two years on, Israel has not only ignored the Court but deepened its illegal occupation. This

  includes recent orders by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel’s army to seize large

  areas of the Gaza Strip, alongside intensified annexationist measures in the occupied West Bank,

  including the approval of plans to register land there as Israeli state property.

  These examples underline how, without much bolder action, the Israeli Government will continue to

  simply ignore the words of condemnation from political leaders and governments and deepen its

  illegal occupation.

  All States have an obligation to act.

  The ICJ is clear that all States have an obligation not to recognise this illegal situation and “not to

  render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the

  Occupied Palestinian Territory.

  ”

  The Court also made clear that all States must “abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings

  with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench itsunlawful presence in the territory” and “take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist

  in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the OPT .

  ”

  Additionally, the ICJ reiterated the obligations of all State Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to

  ensure Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.

  The Government’s Responsibilities

  The ICJ’s Opinion identifies clear legal responsibilities on the Government.

  Yet, despite acknowledging the Court’s findings, two years on, the Government has still not formally

  responded or taken the steps required to meet its legal and moral obligations. Further delay is

  simply indefensible.

  The Government knows what needs to be done. It has rightly imposed widespread sanctions on

  Russia for its illegal war on Ukraine. Yet there has been no such comprehensive response to Israel’s

  actions in Gaza and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

  We are clear that international law cannot be applied selectively. The Government must apply the

  same principles to Israel’s unlawful occupation as it does elsewhere.

  In line with the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion and to uphold its legal obligations, we urge the Government

  to act without delay by:

  • Banning all trade in goods and services with illegal Israeli settlements and taking action

  against companies profiting from or sustaining the illegal occupation.

  • Imposing targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on all individuals and

  entities complicit in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the OPT , including political

  leaders responsible for illegal settlement expansion and annexationist policies.

  • Suspending the UK-Israel trade agreement until Israel complies with international law.

  • Ending all arms transfers to Israel, including F-35 components and other equipment that may

  be used in violations of international humanitarian law.

  If the Government wants to show that its stated commitment to international law and human rights

  is more than words, then it must act decisively and without further delay.

  Yours sincerely,

  Richard Burgon MP and Imran Hussain MP

  Diane Abbott MP

  Shockat Adam MP

  Lord John Alderdice

  Tahir Ali MP

  Paula Barker MP

  Lorraine Beavers MP

  Órfhlaith Begley MP

  Apsana Begum MP

  Siân Berry MP

  Lara Bird MP

  Lee Barron MP

  Olivia Blake MPBaroness Christine Blower

  Ian Byrne MP

  Ellie Chowns MP

  Jeremy Corbyn MP

  Pat Cullen MP

  Ann Davies MP

  Marsha De Cordova MP

  Carla Denyer MP

  Dave Doogan MP

  Lord Alf Dubs

  Neil Duncan-Jordan MP

  Colum Eastwood MP

  Sorcha Eastwood MP

  Cat Eccles MP

  John Finucane MP

  Mary Kelly Foy MP

  Andrew George MP

  Mary Glindon MP

  Lord Peter Hain

  Claire Hanna MP

  Chris Hazzard MP

  Lord John Hendy

  Chris Hinchliff MP

  Dáire Hughes MP

  Rupa Huq MP

  Adnan Hussain MP

  Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece

  Kim Johnson MP

  Afzal Khan MP

  Ayoub Khan MP

  Ben Lake MP

  Peter Lamb MP

  Ian Lavery MP

  Chris Law MP

  Brian Leishman MP

  Clive Lewis MP

  Baroness Ruth Lister

  Cathal Mallaghan MP

  Rachael Maskell MP

  Paul Maskey MP

  Douglas McAllister MP

  Andy McDonald MP

  John McDonnell MP

  Llinos Medi MP

  Abtisam Mohamed MP

  Iqbal Mohamed MP

  Lord Shaffaq Mohammed

  Grahame Morris MP

  Brendan O'Hara MP

  Simon Opher MP

  Kate Osborne MP

  Yasmin Qureshi MP

  Adrian Ramsay MP

  Martin Rhodes MP

  Marie Rimmer MP

  Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

  Liz Saville-Roberts MP

  Lord Prem Sikka

  Lord Indarjit Singh

  Cat Smith MP

  Hannah Spencer MP

  Zarah Sultana MP

  Jon Trickett MP

  Baroness Pola Uddin

  Baroness Sayeeda Warsi

  Nadia Whittome MP

  Steve Witherden MP

  Mohammad Yasin MP