Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
21.03.2024
Dear Louise Haigh MP,
As you know the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza has now resumed with even greater ferocity than before the ceasefire. Over 400 people have been brutally murdered in the last 4 days. You will also be aware that on Wednesday the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made a genocidal statement where he threatened the residents of Gaza – half of whom are children – with “total devastation”.
Your government is continuing to support Israel by providing F-35 parts, diplomatic support, reconnaissance flights over Gaza and, according to many reports, using the British military bases in Cyprus to support Israeli military operations.
The West Bank is increasingly under attack with hundreds dead. Palestinian hostages, including medical practitioners, women and children, have been brutally tortured and sexually assaulted by the Israeli state according to numerous reports by the UN and NGOs.
Meanwhile, by breaking the ceasefire, Israel (and by extension its supporters the US and UK) has demonstrated that it has no regard for the lives of those Israeli hostages who remain captives of Hamas.
In the UK, the repression of people attempting to stop the genocide (a requirement under international law, and moral duty of every person) has been increased under your government. Since coming to power, the Labour government has increased the Orwellian use of anti-terror legislation and authoritarian tactics of arrests, draconian sentencing and intimidation against protesters, politicians, activists, public figures and journalists.
In an email to me (March 3, 2025) you said: “I assure you I continue to support measures taken to bring this conflict to a peaceful end, and to protect the right to peaceful protest is protected [sic].”
Please can you outline in detail what you personally have done to end this conflict and protect peaceful protest, and what you will do now the genocide has resumed?
Also please can you outline in detail what your government will do to uphold the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and all relevant international laws and obligations?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Alexi Dimond
Gleadless Valley Ward
Sheffield City Council
Town Hall
Pinstone Street
S1 2HH
