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Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Dua Lipa, public figures urge UK to end Israel arms sales
LONDON: Pop star Dua Lipa joined some 300 UK celebrities in signing an open letter on Thursday urging Britain to halt arms sales to Israel, after similar pleas from lawyers and writers. Actors, musicians, activists, and other public figures wrote the letter calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to 'end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza.' British Albanian pop sensation Dua Lipa has been vocal about the war in Gaza and last year criticized Israel's offensive as a 'genocide.' Other signatories include actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, and Riz Ahmed, as well as musicians Paloma Faith, Annie Lennox, and Massive Attack. 'You can't call it 'intolerable' and keep sending arms,' read the letter to Labour leader Starmer, organized by Choose Love, a UK-based humanitarian aid and refugee advocacy charity. Sports broadcaster Gary Lineker, who stepped down from his role at the BBC after a social media post that contained anti-Semitic imagery, also signed the letter. Signatories urged the UK to ensure 'full humanitarian access across Gaza,' broker an 'immediate and permanent ceasefire,' and 'immediately suspend' all arms sales to Israel. 'The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. Prime Minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?,' the letter continued. Earlier this month, Starmer slammed Israel's 'egregious' renewed military offensive in Gaza and promised to take 'further concrete actions' if it did not stop — without detailing what the actions could be. Last September, the UK government suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, saying there was a 'clear risk' they could be used to breach humanitarian law. Global outrage has grown after Israel ended a ceasefire in March and stepped up military operations this month, killing thousands of people in a span of two months, according to figures by the Health Ministry. The humanitarian situation has also sparked alarm and fears of starvation after a two-month blockade on aid entering the devastated territory. Over 800 UK lawyers, including Supreme Court justices, and some 380 British and Irish writers warned of Israel committing a 'genocide' in Gaza in open letters this week. Israel's military offensive launched in response to the October 2023 attack has killed 54,084, mostly civilians, in Gaza according to its health ministry, displaced nearly the entire population and ravaged swaths of the besieged strip.
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Dua Lipa and Gary Lineker join stars calling PM to halt all arms sales to Israel
Stars including Dua Lipa, Gary Lineker and Benedict Cumberbatch have urged Sir Keir Starmer to suspend arms sales to Israel as the conflict in Gaza continues. More than 300 actors, musicians, activists and others used an open letter to call on the Prime Minister to 'take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors of Gaza'. As well as suspending UK arms sales to Israel, the group urged Sir Keir to 'use all available means' to ensure humanitarian aid gets into the territory and 'make a commitment to the children of Gaza' that he would broker an 'immediate and permanent ceasefire'. The signatories included Lineker, who left his role presenting Match Of The Day earlier this month following a controversy over one of his social media posts about the conflict in Gaza. He was joined by actors including Cumberbatch and Brian Cox, along with Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlin, singers Paloma Faith and Annie Lennox, and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos. Josie Naughton, founder of the charity Choose Love – which organised the letter, said: 'Words won't save the lives of Palestinian children as they are being killed, words won't fill their empty stomachs. 'We need action from Keir Starmer now. That means stopping arms sales, making sure that legitimate humanitarian organisations can reach people in Gaza. It means doing everything possible to make these horrors end.' The letter follows Tel Aviv's decision to renew its military offensive in Gaza last week as it presses for what Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called 'total victory' over Hamas. UK ministers have condemned the decision, suspending trade talks with Israel, sanctioning West Bank settlers and summoning the country's ambassador, while Sir Keir himself called for Mr Netanyahu to end the offensive. The Prime Minister also described the situation in Gaza as 'intolerable' and warned of 'the prospect of starvation' due to a lack of humanitarian aid. Ministers have already suspended licences for some arms sales to Israel, but activists have demanded that the Government goes further, imposing a total ban including on parts for the F-35 jet. But the Government has said halting the export of spare F-35 parts is not possible as the UK is part of a global supply network and cannot control where those parts end up. A Government spokesperson said: 'We strongly oppose the expansion of military operations in Gaza and call on the Israeli Government to cease its offensive and immediately allow for unfettered access to humanitarian aid. 'The denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. 'Last year, we suspended export licences to Israel for items used in military operations in Gaza and continue to refuse licences for military goods that could be used by Israel in the current conflict. 'We urge all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire agreement and work towards a permanent and sustainable peace.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dua Lipa and Benedict Cumberbatch lead group urging Keir Starmer to 'end UK complicity' in Gaza
Benedict Cumberbatch, Dua Lipa, Massive Attack, Danny Boyle, Tilda Swinton and Riz Ahmed are among the hundreds of celebrities urging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to 'end UK complicity' in Gaza. The request was put forward in an open letter to the PM, led by refugee charity Choose Love. As highlighted by Sky News, the letter demands that all UK arms sales to Israel be immediately suspended and that the government commit to seeking a ceasefire for 'the children of Gaza'. 'We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza,' it reads. The letter outlines that children in Gaza are starving, while adequate medicine and food 'sit just minutes away' – a reference to the 11-week blockade of supplies to Gaza by Israel, which was lifted last week. The letter states that 71,000 children under the age of four are 'acutely malnourished', and they 'cry until they can't cry anymore – until hunger takes even their voices'. 'You can't call it 'intolerable', yet do nothing,' it says directly to Starmer. Other famous signatories include Primal Scream, Annie Lennox, Lena Headey, Nicola Coughlan, Maxine Peake, Gary Lineker, Lily Cole and more. Activist Munroe Bergdorf, artist Tracey Emin and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos have also signed the letter. The letter ends: 'The world is watching and history will not forget. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. Prime minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?'
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Benedict Cumberbatch and Dua Lipa among 300 public figures calling UK government to end 'complicity' in Gaza
More than 300 public figures have signed an open letter calling on the British government to cease what they describe as its 'complicity in the horrors in Gaza.' The letter was initiated by the UK-based charity Choose Love and is addressed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It features figures from across the entertainment industry, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Dua Lipa, Annie Lennox, Tilda Swinton and Riz Ahmed. 'We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza,' the letter, obtained by Sky News, reads. 'Right now, children in Gaza are starving while food and medicine sit just minutes away, blocked at the border. Words won't feed Palestinian children – we need action. Every single one of Gaza's 2.1 million people is at risk of starvation, as you read this. 'Mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents – an entire people left to starve before the world's eyes," the letter continues. "290,000 children are on the brink of death – starved by the Israeli government for more than 70 days.' The letter urges the British government to block sales of UK arms to Israel. It also calls for immediate humanitarian access to Palestinians for aid agencies, and for the UK to help in brokering a ceasefire. 'Words won't save the lives of Palestinian children as they are being killed, words won't fill their empty stomachs,' Josie Naughton, co-founder and chief executive of Choose Love, said in the open letter. 'We need action from Keir Starmer now. That means stopping all arms sales and licences, making sure that legitimate humanitarian organisations can reach people in Gaza. It means doing everything possible to make these horrors end. Action is a choice, just as inaction is one. History will remember what we did in this moment. We are begging the Prime Minister to make the right choice.' The letter was co-signed a handful of Arab figures, including surgeon Dr Ghassan Abu Sitta and filmmakers Farah Nabulsi and Waad Al Kateab. 'History is written in moments of moral clarity,' the letter concludes. "This is one. The world is watching and history will not forget. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. Prime Minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?' Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 54,084 Palestinians and injured 123,308 since October 7, 2023, the enclave's Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Israel resumed military operations in the territory on March 18 ending a two-month ceasefire. Since then, 3,924 people have been killed. The Israeli military began its offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel and killed 1,200 people. The complete list of signatories: Abigail Lawrie Abnit Nijjar Afua Hirsch Aimee Croysdill Aisling Bea Aiysha Hart Alewya Alex Eagle Alex Hannaby Alex Lockwood Alex Lawther Alex Boateng Alexei Sayle Alexi Lubomirski Alexis Bamforth Alice Aedy Alison Oliver Amalia Vitale Amanda Rajkumar Amber Massie-Blomfield Amelia Dimoldenberg Amy Jackson Anais Aida Andi Oliver Andrea Kapos Andrea Riseborough Andrew Wilkinson Andy Sewell Anna Chancellor Anna Hussain Annabelle Wallis Annie Lennox Annie Mac Anoushka Shankar April De Angelis Asif Kapadia Basma Khalifa Becky Bowe Becky Hill Bella Freud Ben Howard Benedict Cumberbatch Bill Paterson Brian Cox Brian Eno Caitriona Balfe Callum Grieve Camilla Brady Camilla Whitehill Camille Charriere Candice Brathwaite Carmen Busquets Cassandra Stavrou Cathy Runciman Cecily Eno Celina Teague Charlene Ryan Charlie Waterhouse Charlie Murphy Charlie Brooker Chloe Abrahams Chris O'Dowd Clare Patey Clover Hogan Cosima Davies Courttia Newland Dame Harriet Walter Dame Tracey Emin DBE RA Dan Smith Daniel Lismore Danny Boyle David Lan Dawn O'Porter Dawn Butler Daze Aghaji Deanna Rodger Deborah Curtis Deborah Frances-White Deirdre Moran Denise Gough Dermot O'Leary Díana Bermudez Dr Ghassan Abu-Sitta Dr Inua Ellams MBE, FRSA, FRSL Dr James Smith Dua Lipa Dylan Brady Ed Burnside Ed Gillespie Edward Davis Eleanor Tomlinson Elizabeth Slade Ellis Howard Emma Findlay Emma Naomi Eve De Haan Eve Ensler Everyday Racism Farah Nabulsi Farrah O'connor Federico Gaggio Felix White Fisayo Akinade Frederica Lovell-Pank Gary Lineker Geoff Lumb George Gwynne Giada Lubomirski Gideon Berger Giles Duley Giles Taylor Gizzi Erskine Grace Campbell HAAi Hannah Menzies Hannah Lowe Harriet Walter Harry Williams Hildegard Bechtler Himesh Patel Ian Drysdale Ian Kershaw Ian Rickson Ieuan Williams Imad Al Arnab Imran Yusuf Indira Varma Isabella Nefar Jack Casey Jack Rooke Jake Dunn James Smith James McVey Jamie Byng Jan Woolf Jemima Khan Jen Brister Jess Mills Jessica Fostekew Jessie Ware Jo Rendle Joel Gray Joel Murphy John Fass John Keane John Lithgow Johnny Bleasdale Jolyon Maugham KC Jolyon Rubinstein Jon Hopkins Jonathan Pryce Jordan Stephens Joy Crookes Julie Hesmondhalgh Juliet Stevenson Juno Dawson Katharine Hamnett Kathy Lette Katie Davies Katie Leung Kelly Eastwood Kerry McDermott Khalid Abdalla Konnie Huq Laline Paull Lara Savikl Laura Hawkins Laura Whitmore Laura Bailey Lauren Lyle Lauren Mayberry LED BY DONKEYS Lee Hall Lena De casparis Lena Headey Lennie Ware Leyla Hussein Liam Smith Lilly Heine Lily Cole Linda Maitland Lise Mayer Livia Giuggioli Firth Lolly Adefope Lorna Tucker-McGarvey Lottie Coll Louisa Young Love Ssega Lydia West Mabel Mackenzie Davis Maddy Neghabian Mae Martin Malcolm Garrett Marcia Cross Margo Mars Mark Grimmer Mark Ruffalo Marli Siu MASSIVE ATTACK Matt Black Matt Haig Max Porter Maxine Peake Meera Soda Melisa Basol Merck Mercuriadis Mhoira Leng Michael Collins Michelle Mao Misan Harriman Mohsan Alvi Morgan Spector Moss Barclay Munroe Bergdorf Myriam Francois Nabhaan Rizwan Nadia Sawalha Najjib Rahman Nancy Strang Nansi Nsue Natalie Pinkham Nathalie Emmanuel Nathaniel Curtis Neil Griffiths Neneh Cherry Nicholas Donovan Nicola Coughlan Nicola Thorp Nicole Cox Nihal Arthanayake Nikesh Shukla Nikesh Patel Nikita Gill Nilly (Pauline) Brook Nish Kumar Noé Sébert Noomi Rapace Olivia Marcus Olivia West Oluwakemi Davies Omar Abdel-Mannan Onjali Q Rauf Ophelie Bedier Paapa Essiedu Paloma Faith Patrick Walker Paul Ewen Paul Laverty Paul Reynolds Payzee Mahmod Pete Wyer Peter Straughan Phoebe Collings-James Poppy Ajudha Primal Scream Professor Jacqueline Rose Rachel Chinouriri Raghib Ali Rebecca Hall Rehana Kapadia Richard Bacon Riz Ahmed Robert Diament Robert Gilbert Roger Hartley Rosa Hesmondhalgh Rose Williams Rosie O'Donnell Ruby Stokes Ruth Negga Sabrina Mahfouz Sadie Frost Salena Godden Sam Fender Sam Roddick Samuel West Savannah Miller Scott ODonnell Seamus McGarvey Shalini Peiris Shappi Khorsandi Sharmadean Reid Sharon Watson Shelagh Wright Sheridan Kates Shola Mos-Shogbamimu Siobhan McSweeney Sophia Di Martino Sophie Hunter Sophie Willan Stephen Kapos Steve Coogan Sunetra Sarker Susan Wokoma Sydney Lima Sylvia Banafsheh Brook Taban Shoresh OBE Tadhg Hickey Tallulah Greive Tanya Haj-Hassan Tilda Swinton Tim McInnerny Tobias Menzies Toby Jones Tom Rutherford Tony 'Gad' Robinson Tracey Seaward Twana Omer Tyler Richardson Tyson McVey Vic Hope Victoria Harwood Victoria Moseley Waad Al Kateab Waleed Elgadi Will Attenborough Will Sharpe WolfAlice Wretch 32 Yasmin Evans Yomi Adegoke Zareen Rahman Zarlasht Halaimzai Zawe Ashton Zowie Broach
Euronews
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Celebrities urge UK PM Keir Starmer to 'end UK complicity' in Gaza
Benedict Cumberbatch, Dua Lipa, Massive Attack, Danny Boyle, Tilda Swinton and Riz Ahmed are among the hundreds of celebrities urging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to 'end UK complicity' in Gaza. The request was put forward in an open letter to the PM, led by refugee charity Choose Love. As highlighted by Sky News, the letter demands that all UK arms sales to Israel be immediately suspended and that the government commit to seeking a ceasefire for 'the children of Gaza'. 'We urge you to take immediate action to end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza,' it reads. The letter outlines that children in Gaza are starving, while adequate medicine and food 'sit just minutes away' – a reference to the 11-week blockade of supplies to Gaza by Israel, which was lifted last week. The letter states that 71,000 children under the age of four are 'acutely malnourished', and they 'cry until they can't cry anymore – until hunger takes even their voices'. 'You can't call it 'intolerable', yet do nothing,' it says directly to Starmer. Other famous signatories include Primal Scream, Annie Lennox, Lena Headey, Nicola Coughlan, Maxine Peake, Gary Lineker, Lily Cole and more. Activist Munroe Bergdorf, artist Tracey Emin and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos have also signed the letter. The letter ends: 'The world is watching and history will not forget. The children of Gaza cannot wait another minute. Prime minister, what will you choose? Complicity in war crimes, or the courage to act?' It's been nearly five months since we lost visionary director David Lynch, and now his memorabilia are up for auction. Julien's Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) have announced the David Lynch Collection, which includes more than 450 items like Lynch's vinyl collection, books, scripts, paintings, instruments and treasured movie collectables. Even some of his woodshop tools and accessories. 'Julien's and TCM are honored to represent and offer to the public for the first time this incredible collection of one of the greatest and most revered filmmakers of all time, David Lynch,' Catherine Williamson, the managing director of entertainment at Julien's Auctions, said in a press release. 'These historical and cherished pieces reflecting David Lynch's singular artistic vision, as well as his passions and pursuits ranging from his director's chair, espresso machine to his guitar, record collections and Twin Peaks style decor, come directly from the home of the visionary artist whose enigmatic films stirred our most imaginative and collective surreal dreams.' You can check out the full collection here. Here are some of the ones we'd love to snap up: The chair is emblazoned with his name on the back in gold. The current bid at the time of writing is $7,000. An original Moviola Midget used for viewing 35mm film reels to assist in the editing process. Current bid: $1,250. Fancy setting up your own Black Lodge? Current bid: $1,750. Find your way to the place 'both wonderful and strange' with this map drawn and signed by David Lynch. Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000. A group of three scripts from the production of Lynch neo-noir masterpiece Mulholland Drive. Current bid: $2,250. The live auction is set for 18 June on Julien's Auction's website and at their Gardena auction house.
