Green MP and leader of the Parliamentary Green Party Dr Ellie Chowns has written to newly appointed Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband urging the UK Government to take genuine action over the Israeli Government’s “grave and ongoing human rights abuses” in Palestine and end UK complicity in genocide and other war crimes.
Writing ahead of Parliament’s return next week, the letter urges Miliband to demonstrate a more effective and principled way of responding to the Israeli Government’s actions, arguing that it is “vital that the UK Government does not simply condemn breaches of international law, but acts decisively to stop them.”
The full text of the letter reads:
Dear Ed,
As you will be aware, we are quickly approaching the return of Parliament following a summer which has ushered forth a new Prime Minister, a largely new Cabinet, and a new position for yourself, as Foreign Secretary. What is yet to be seen is whether we will also see a new and more effective and principled way of responding to the Israeli Government’s grave and ongoing human rights abuses in Palestine. It is vital that the UK Government does not simply condemn breaches of international law, but acts decisively to stop them.
The need for urgent action cannot be overstated; the ongoing genocide has seen more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025. Access to critical humanitarian aid such as food and medical supplies remains heavily restricted, and the displacement of Palestinians has continued as Israeli forces expand further into Gaza beyond the agreed ceasefire boundaries. Illegal Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank also continues to escalate, with the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting about 190 attacks a month in the first four months of 2026, alongside the publication of construction tenders for 1,200 homes in the E1 area.
While I recognise your condemnation of the E1 plans and acknowledgement of the destructive threat that settlement expansion poses to peace in the region, it is clear that simply issuing statements of concern is not enough to make the Israeli Government change course.
I therefore urge you to learn from the mistakes of your predecessors and take genuine action to protect the human rights of Palestinians, uphold international law, and make clear that the UK will no longer be complicit in genocide and other war crimes in Palestine. These actions include, but are not limited to:
- Ending all arms sales to, and military cooperation with, Israel;
- Banning all trade with illegal Israeli settlements in order to ensure the UK does not profit from the occupation of Palestine;
- Imposing further sanctions on Netanyahu and other senior Israeli Government officials responsible for breaches of international law;
- Demanding and helping secure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so essential food, medicine, shelter, and other aid can reach those who desperately need it;
- Driving independent investigations into war crimes and backing justice mechanisms for victims, in order to bring about the accountability required for a just and lasting peace.
There is significant and growing support for these measures across Parliament, including from many MPs within your own party. Indeed, the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged that Labour previously “got it wrong” on Gaza and has said that more needed to be done to ensure Israel adheres to international law; your new position grants you an opportunity to turn that recognition into meaningful action.
I therefore hope that you will act with the urgency that this moment demands. The UK Government must stand firmly for international law, human rights, and the protection of civilians, not for further impunity for those responsible for war crimes.
I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss the cross-party role Parliament can play in securing justice, accountability, and a lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Ellie Chowns
MP for North Herefordshire
Leader of the Parliamentary Green Party and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
