20th May, 2025
Dear Prime Minister,
We the undersigned film, television and creative industry professionals are writing as artists who are deeply troubled by your lack of meaningful action to help deter Israel’s horrifying and calculated violations of Palestinian rights.
We condemn absolutely all attacks on civilians whether by States or armed groups. We also recognise that Israel’s illegal occupation and systematic repression of Palestinian civilians has been ongoing for decades, and the sickening escalation in Israel’s abuse and breaches of international law since October 2023 cannot be legally justified.
In Gaza, Israel is committing genocide on top of its occupation and apartheid. People are watching this genocide unfold with horror and despair. Israel’s plans to annex Gaza, forcibly displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and militarize humanitarian aid demonstrate utter disregard for international law and contempt for the rights of Palestinians. This horrifying escalation comes on top of unprecedented destruction, killing huge numbers of civilians and implementing a mediaeval siege, cutting off over 2 million people from water, food, electricity and medical supplies.
You know that Israel is using F35 planes to drop 2000lb bombs on Gaza. You know that Israel has killed at least 20,000+ children in Gaza since October 2023. You surely know that more will die from starvation and disease if this genocide is not stopped. Yet you continue to supply parts for those same F35 planes. Your government is failing to fulfil its obligation to prevent the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In the occupied West Bank, Palestinians are enduring unprecedented levels of state-backed settler violence and accelerating settlement expansion—on top of a deeply entrenched system of discrimination that affects every aspect of their daily lives. This system of domination and racial segregation meets the legal definition of apartheid, as recognised by Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International.
The International Court of Justice has made it clear: states have a legal obligation to do everything they can to ensure Israel ends its illegal occupation, including ceasing all trade connected to the settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Yet your government continues to allow the import of settlement goods. Banning imports from illegally occupied Crimea while allowing trade with settlements in occupied Palestinian territory reveals a stark double standard. This inconsistency undermines international law and erodes its protection for civilians worldwide.
We implore you to stand up for justice and human rights. Stop all arms export to Israel. Comply with the International Court of Justice, including through banning trade in settlement goods and services. Support the International Criminal Court and those working with it. Help end this genocide, this occupation, this apartheid.
Words are not enough, we need to see action.
Yours sincerely
Juliet Stevenson CBE
Ahmed Masoud
Aisling Bea
Aiysha Hart
Alan Moore
Alexander McKinnon
Alexei Sayle
Alice Roberts
Alisdair Beckett King
Amrita Acharia
Andrea Arnold
Anjli Mohindra
Anneika Rose
Annie Mac
Sir Anish Kapoor CBE
Anoushka Shankar
Dr Ariel Caine
Bernadette O'Brien
Bertie Carvel
President of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation
Brian Eno
Briony Hannah
Brona C Titley
Charlotte Church
Chipo Chung
David Morrissey
Deborah Frances-White
Declan McKenna
Denise Gough
Emma D'Arcy
Esther Freud
Esther Manito
Fionn Ó Loinsigh
Francesca Martinez
Frankie Boyle
Frederico Gaggio
Grace Petrie
Dame Harriet Walter
Himesh Patel
Ian Rickson
Imran Yusuf
Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness
Inua Ellams MBE
Ivor Graeme
Jackie Clune
James Acaster
Jan Pearson
Janie Dee
Jason Fleming
Jay Griffiths
Jen Brister
Jessica Fostekew
Jim Loach
John Higgs
Josie Long
Jolyon Rubinstein
Juliet Stevenson CBE
Kathy Lette
Kerry Godliman
Khalid Abdalla
Ken Loach
Lise Meyer
Lolly Adefope
Louisa Young
Love Ssegga
Mae Martin
Mahtab Hussain
Manjinder Virk
Mariam Haque
Marnie Dickens
Max Porter
Maxine Peake
Dr Michael Hrebeniak
Misan Harriman
Mystery Jets
Nadia Sawalha
Nadim Sawalha
Nicola Thorp
Nikesh Patel
Nikesh Shukla
Nikita Gill
Nimmi Harasgama
Nish Kumar
Paapa Essiedu
Paloma Faith
Paul Laverty
Penny Woolcock
Peter Wyer
Rebecca O'Brien
Rida Hamidou
Riz Ahmed
Robert Smith (The Cure)
Robin Ince
Robin Morrissey
Roger Hartley
Roisin O'Loughlin
Ruth Lass
Salena Godden
Sam Spruell
Sara Masry
Sarah Agha
Sasha Behar
Selma Dabbagh
Shazia Mirza
Simon Rix
Sonali Bhattacharyya
Stephen Morris (New Order)
Stewart Lee
Steve Coogan
Susan Lynch
Suzi Ruffell
Tanita Tikaram
Thomas Browne
Thomas Combes
Thusitha Jayasundera
Tobias Menzies
Dame Tracey Emin
Tracey Seaward
Vijay Mistry
Vivian Munn
Young Fathers (all members)
Zainab Hassan
READ AMNESTY'S REPORT ABOUT THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA