Over 300 public figures urge UK government to end "complicity" in Gaza crisis

More than 300 prominent figures from the arts, media, academia, and civil society have signed an open letter calling on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to "end the UK's complicity" in the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

The letter, seen exclusively by Sky News and spearheaded by the refugee charity Choose Love, urges the UK government to take immediate action by suspending all arms sales to Israel, facilitating humanitarian access for experienced aid agencies, and committing to brokering a ceasefire "for the children of Gaza," Caliber.Az reports. 

Signatories include a host of celebrities such as actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Lena Headey, Riz Ahmed, Maxine Peake, and Nicola Coughlan, as well as musicians Dua Lipa, Annie Lennox, Paloma Faith, and bands Massive Attack and Primal Scream. Other notable names include football pundit Gary Lineker, TV personalities Dermot O’Leary and Laura Whitmore, and artist Tracey Emin.

Also among the signatories is Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos. The letter highlights the suffering of children in Gaza, claiming 71,000 under the age of four are "acutely malnourished," and that they "cry until they can't cry anymore – until hunger takes even their voices."

The statement continues: "We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza." It criticises the blockade on humanitarian supplies, saying children are starving while "food and medicine sit just minutes away," referring to Israel's 11-week blockade, which was lifted last week.

"The world is watching and history will not forget. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute," the letter warns. "Prime minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?"

In September 2024, the UK suspended 30 arms export licences out of roughly 350 that cover items destined for Israel. Despite this, the letter accuses the government of continuing to provide licences and allow the sale of arms to Israel.

Last week, Sir Keir joined French and Canadian leaders in warning Israel of “concrete actions” should it continue what they described as an “egregious” expansion of military operations in Gaza. He also told MPs that the suffering, particularly among children, was “intolerable” and described Israel’s decision to allow limited aid into the territory as “utterly inadequate.”

This latest intervention comes days after 828 UK-based or qualified legal experts, including former Supreme Court justices, signed a letter to Sir Keir warning that “genocide is being perpetrated in Gaza.”

Israel has repeatedly denied allegations of genocide.

By Sabina Mammadli