In response to David Lammy and other Foreign Ministers’ statement on the genocide in Gaza, Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK’s Crisis Response Manager, said:

“These are empty words from the Foreign Secretary - the statement lacks any resolve, leadership or action to help end the crisis in Gaza.

“More than two months ago the UK said it would take ‘concrete action’ if Israel did not change course. Instead, the situation has only deteriorated, and all we’ve seen are more hollow assurances. The UK government cannot continue to stand by as this genocide unfolds before our eyes. It’s unbearable, unconscionable and a living nightmare for Palestinians.

“Government inaction and its failure to take robust measures to prevent genocide is no   accident. As a state party to the Genocide Convention, the UK has a legal duty to prevent and punish genocide - a duty it is failing miserably to uphold.

“The UK government must show real backbone by immediately halting all arms exports to Israel - whether direct or indirect - including components for F-35 fighter jets. It must also use every political, legal, and diplomatic tool at its disposal to help end Israel’s genocide, dismantle its apartheid regime, and bring the illegal occupation to an end.

“Without decisive action, the relentless assault on Palestinians will escalate further, with even more devastating consequences.”