UK medics urge government to halt arms and economic ties with Israel

Healthcare professionals across the UK are demanding immediate government action to stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza and ensure protection for the Palestinian people.

The call comes in an open letter organised by Health Workers 4 Palestine, a coalition of British clinicians, public health experts, researchers and frontline NHS staff advocating for “medical justice and accountability” in Palestine.

The letter, launched on the evening of 30 May, has already drawn more than 2,200 signatures — including over 300 NHS consultants, alongside GPs, professors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

The group is urging the UK government to “immediately suspend all military and economic cooperation with Israel and impose a full arms embargo”.

They also demand the government “exert all political and diplomatic pressure” to secure “an immediate and permanent ceasefire”, and support unrestricted access for humanitarian aid — including backing for Unrwa and Palestinian-led organisations.

In the longer term, they are calling for the UK to “resource humanitarian, health and development programmes” — including offering treatment for Palestinian patients in UK hospitals and support for Palestinian students to study in Britain.