Northern Gaza: NGOs accuse UK of 'failing to stand up for international law'

Over a dozen British NGOs on Tuesday accused the UK government of “failing to stand up for international law” after Israeli forces launched a fresh aerial and ground offensive in northern Gaza, laying siege to residential areas and leaving 400,000 civilians trapped there.

The military this week ordered hundreds of thousands of people across northern Gaza to flee south.

However, residents have told Middle East Eye they were not given enough time to leave their homes before Israeli forces encircled some areas. Many reports say those who have attempted to leave have been shot and killed by Israeli forces.

Israeli media and analysts have suggested that the military is implementing a controversial plan which would see northern Gaza emptied of its residents to make way for a closed military zone.

In a strongly worded statement, the NGOs, which include major aid organisations such as Oxfam, Islamic Relief UK and Medical Aid for Palestinians, said Gaza “is being erased before our eyes”.

“The government must demand that Israel end its heinous attacks, and take action to oppose any annexation or shrinking of Gaza,” they said.

“Its current silence is tantamount to complicity.”

The NGOs call specifically on the UK government to publicly oppose Israel’s forcible transfer of Palestinians and the annexation of northern Gaza and to suspend all arms transfers to Israel.

They also said the government should take “bold and concrete steps” to ensure that Israel complies with the International Court of Justice’s orders to prevent genocide and to implement the court’s advisory opinion not to aid Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

“We reiterate our calls on the UK to end its potential or actual complicity in violations of international law,” they wrote.

Middle East Eye has contacted the UK Foreign Office for comment.