ICAHD’s Position on Israel’s War on Gaza

Genuine Ceasefire in Gaza
Bring in Urgent Humanitarian Aid
Stop Arms Trade with Israel
Free All Palestinian Political Prisoners
End Israeli Genocide Now

Photo :972 - Palestinians return to inspect their homes in Khan Younis after the Israeli army withdrew from the area, southern Gaza Strip, April 8, 2024. (Atia Mohammed/Flash90)

Articles specifically about ICAHD’s position on Gaza

- ICAHD’s Statements on the Gaza War. The only way to end the violence and save all lives in Palestine/Israel is to decolonise the oppressive apartheid regime and its occupation, replacing them with a democratic state offering equal rights for all. Read ICAHD's statements here (/news/icahd-statements-gaza-war).
- The Choice on the Way Forward Is between Genocide/Apartheid or a Democratic State. What Zionism/Israel has done to the Palestinian people stands as one of the great crimes of modern history which has destroyed two peoples, the Palestinians and the Jews. Read ICAHD's statement here (/argument/your-choice-apartheid-genocide-or-one-democratic-state-for-all).
- Gaza, the Day After: The Battle against Two-State Apartheid. The Hamas operation of October 7th has fundamentally changed the political game in the Middle East. No longer can the Palestinians be excluded; “normalization” can no longer be pursued without dealing first and foremost with the status of Palestine. The fear is that there will be an American-led attempt to impose a two-state solution which will leave Palestinians living in a permanent state of apartheid. This must be prevented. Read article here (/news/gaza-the-day-after-the-battle-against-two-state-apartheid).
- The ICJ’s Ruling on “Plausible Genocide” In Gaza: an Incomplete Victory - Though we applaud the International Court of Justice for its ruling on “plausible” genocide happening in Gaza and for issuing provisional measures to be taken, it did not call for a ceasefire to be imposed on Israel which is what the South Africans asked to happen. Read ICAHD's sttement here (/argument/the-icjs-ruling-on-plausible-genocide-in-gaza-an-incomplete-victory).

Jeff Halper’s monthly video updates on the War on Gaza

These monthly updates from ICAHD’s director, Jeff Halper, provide insight to the situation on the ground by a critical Israeli Jew who believes that international law should be respected and that all people everywhere should live in freedom with dignity and with their human rights respected.

The recordings are found here (/news/war-on-gaza-updates)

Lobbying political representatives

Britain ratified the Geneva Conventions (https://www.icrc.org/en/law-and-policy/geneva-conventions-and-their-commentaries) which means that it has a responsibility to see that it is observed by holding Israel to account for its violations. Governments must also fulfil their obligations under international law by respecting the decisions of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court.

Guidance on establishing a relationship with your political representative (/news/sample-lobby-letters) and how to structure your letters is provided on ICAHD’s website. In summary, get to know your political representatives, keep track of their special interests and the positions they take. Be respectful in your communications and keep letters to one A4 page, with a clear focus and a specific “ask”. Mention if you have visited Palestine/Israel.  Request a response.

Sample lobby letter prepared 9 January 2026

Dear

As your constituent, I wish to draw your attention to the continuation, indeed the intensification, of the violence committed against the Palestinian people since October 2023 when Israel’s war on Gaza began. At present, benefiting from the silence of the world’s media, Israel is increasing its persecution of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and within the state of Israel, where their lives are subject to Israel’s unbridled criminality. I have visited both the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, where I have witnessed the situation on the ground on both sides of the divide. I have met with leading Palestinians and Israeli Jews who have dedicated their lives to working for a just and sustainable peace where all can live in freedom and with dignity.

Since Britain ratified the Geneva Conventions in 1949, it has a legal and moral responsibility to call governments to account when violations occur. However, there have never been any consequences to Israel’s many serious breaches of international law, including Israel’s imposition of apartheid policies over the Palestinian people, as identified by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and various bodies of the United Nations. We saw how quickly the UK responded by imposing sanctions on Russia when it invaded the Ukraine. This clearly demonstrated the UK’s exceptional treatment of Israel, which has always been allowed to act with impunity. The Labour government assumed the reins of power more than a year ago, and I was hoping that things would be different under a new regime, particularly one under the guidance of a former human rights lawyer.

As a matter of utmost urgency, I ask that you hear my voice and that of the British population. Will you please:

Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza

The latest ‘ceasefire’ came into force supposedly on 10 October 2025; yet according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing local health authorities two months later, 394 Palestinians had been killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since the ceasefire came into effect. OCHA also stated that since 7 October 2023 Israel’s war on Gaza had killed at least 71,266 Palestinians and injured 171,222. Israel has damaged or destroyed over 90% of residential homes and more than 80% of commercial facilities. More than 90% of all school buildings have sustained some level of damage. 1.9 million Gazans, 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced. No hospital in Gaza is fully functional, and only a handful of Gaza’s original 36 hospitals remain even partially operational. I catalogue these details because our media, perhaps distracted by other matters, seem to have forgotten that the genocide in Gaza carries on pursuing its relentless course, and you may therefore be unaware that the horrors unleashed upon an innocent civilian population continue unabated and unregarded.

Insist that humanitarian aid be let into Gaza and that the UK pledge its continued support for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East).

One hundred percent of the entire population of Gaza face acute food insecurity. Over 100,00 people are enduring ‘catastrophic conditions’, which is the level just before famine can be officially declared. Not only is Israel impeding the entry of sufficient food and shelter into Gaza to sustain its starving and freezing inhabitants through the winter months, but at the end of December 2025 it revoked the licences of 37 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) working in Gaza and the West Bank. Again, little attention has been paid to this added catastrophe by our tabloid and mainstream news media. In addition, Israel is preventing the entry into Gaza of medical equipment and medication vital for the treatment of the many Gazans wounded by Israeli bombardment or suffering from chronic health conditions exacerbated by Israel’s iron fist.

Stop Britain’s arms sales to Israel

Israel is using UK arms exports in its war on the Palestinian people. The UK has supplied these weapons for decades, and by offering political and military support for Israel to commit the gravest human rights violations with impunity, the UK is complicit in these crimes. (See the report by Campaign Against Arms Trade (https://caat.org.uk/news/statement-on-israels-latest-assault-on-gaza/)).

Demand that Israel release the men, women and children held without trial in prisons and detention centres

According to the prisoner support and human rights association Addameer, Israel holds 9,300 political prisoners and detainees in its prisons, the majority of whom are held without trial or charge. Palestinian children are tried in military courts, and before going to trial, says Addameer, ‘Israeli law and police orders provide that children detained in Israel are to be interrogated by police officers . . . in situations that are highly intimidating, lack any real form of oversight and are rife with abuse’. Israeli children, by contrast, are tried in civil courts and without such hostile intervention.

Please forward my letter to the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary, so that she also may know my request. I await your response. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sample lobby letter following the UK’s General Election on 4th July 2024

Adopt as appropriate.

Dear

Congratulations on being elected to represent our constituency in parliament where you are our voice. I look forward to following your work in parliament and within our community.

I write now because of the gravity of violations committed against the Palestinian people due to Israel’s catastrophic war on Gaza. I am also aware of what is happening to all the other Palestinians, whether they live in the West Bank, East Jerusalem or within the state of Israel as their lives are also subject to Israel’s war crimes. I have visited the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel therefore I have witnessed the situation on the ground on both sides of the divide. I have met with leading Palestinians and Israeli Jews who have dedicated their lives to working for a just and sustainable peace where all can live in freedom and with dignity.

Britian ratified the Geneva Conventions which means that it has a legal and moral responsibility to call governments to account when violations occur. However, there have never been consequences to Israel’s many serious breaches of international law including Israel’s implementation of apartheid policies over the Palestinian people as identified by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and UN bodies. We saw how quickly the UK responded by imposing sanctions on Russia when it invaded the Ukraine. It demonstrated exceptionalism to Israel as it has always been allowed to act with impunity. I hope that things will be different under our new government and with the role that you can play in parliament.

As a matter of utmost urgency, I ask that you hear my voice and that of the British population. Will you:

Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza

According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of 10th July 2024, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 38,295 and injured 88,241. It has destroyed 60% of residential homes and 80% of commercial facilities. 88% of all school buildings have sustained some level of damage. 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced. Only thirteen out of 36 hospitals partially function. Many other statistics are available.

Insist that humanitarian aid be let into Gaza and that the UK resume funding UNRWA

96% of the analysed population face crisis of food insecurity. There is severe lack of medical services and supplies reaching Gaza. Israel has provided no evidence to back up claims that UNRWA employees were members of terrorist organisations.

Stop Britain’s arms sales to Israel

Israel is using UK arms exports in its war on the Palestinian people. The UK has supplied these weapons for decades, and by offering political and military support for Israel to commit the gravest human rights violations with impunity, the UK is complicit in these crimes. (Campaign Against the Arms Trade)

Demand that Israeli hostages be released along with the Palestinian prisoners

An estimated 120 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza (OCHA) while Israel holds 9,500 Palestinians in detention centres, including women and children (Addameer).

Please forward my letter to the Rt Hon David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, so he also knows my request. I await your response. Thank you.

Sincerely,

— ICAHD (icahd.org)
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