Former diplomats call for sanctions against Israel

More than one hundred former French and British diplomats have issued a joint letter to President Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime Minister, calling for concrete sanctions against Israel. The signatories, who are former professionals in international relations and law, argue that diplomatic condemnations and calls for restraint are no longer sufficient to address the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

The letter highlights the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the population lacks housing, medicine, and food. It also expresses concern regarding the West Bank, citing settler violence and demolitions. Specifically, the diplomats warn that the E1 settlement project threatens to bisect the West Bank, undermining the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. They argue that the failure to enforce ‘red lines’ previously established by France, the United Kingdom, and Germany diminishes the authority of international law and global legal institutions.