Over 300,000 sign petition in UK for sanctions against Israel
Parliament considers all petitions getting more than 100,000 signatures for debate
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather to protest against Israeli air raids on Gaza Strip outside Britain's PM Office in Downing Street, London, United Kingdom on May 11, 2021. ( Vudi Xhymshiti - Anadolu Agency )
LONDON
A petition calling on the British government to introduce sanctions against Israel reached over 315,600 signatures on Monday.
The text of the petition reads: “The government should introduce sanctions against Israel, including blocking all trade, and in particular arms.
“Its disproportionate treatment of Palestinians and settlements that are regarded by the international community as illegal are an affront to civilized society.”
The petition was set up on the British government’s own petition website.
The government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures, and parliament considers all petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures for a debate.
The petition calling for sanctions against Israel has surpassed these requirements by some margin, and it is still gaining signatures.
Another petition on the government’s website called on the government to formally recognize the state of Palestine.
The petition, which has over 70,000 signatures, reads: “Recognize the state of Palestine to help stop the conflict from Israel. Not recognizing the Palestinian state allows Israel to continue persecution of the Palestinians.”
The campaigning website change.org has also seen a number of petitions related to Palestine.
One petition on the website titled “Justice for the people of Palestine” has received over 105,900 signatures, and another titled "Free Palestine" more than 64,200 signatures.
The moves came amid ongoing tensions that started in East Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan spread to Gaza as a result of Israeli assaults on worshippers in the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
At least 200 Palestinians have been killed, including 59 children and 35 women, in Israeli attacks in Gaza since last week, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 1,305 people have also been injured and tens of buildings destroyed or damaged in the Israeli offensive.
Ten Israelis have also been killed by rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
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