Benedict Cumberbatch, Dua Lipa Join 300 Celebs Urging UK PM To Stop Arms Sales To Israel And End 'Horrors In Gaza’

Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch, pop star Dua Lipa, Succession actor Brian Cox and other celebs have joined more than 300 public figures in signing an open letter, on Thursday, urging Britain to stop arms sales to Israel. The stars included from the world of music, cinema and entertainment, who in the letter asked UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "end the UK's complicity in the horrors in Gaza".

Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey, Marvel actress Zawe Ashton, Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan, director Danny Boyle, and Riz Ahmed, among others are also among the signatories.

The letter was also signed by other public figures and doctors, academics, advocacy groups and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos. Sports broadcaster Gary Lineker, who stepped down from his role at the BBC also signed it.

The letter was led by Choose Love, a UK-based humanitarian aid and refugee advocacy charity.

The signatories urged UK to ensure "full humanitarian access across Gaza", broker an "immediate and permanent ceasefire", and "immediately suspend" all arms sales to Israel.

"Those who survive starvation wake up to bombs falling on them. Violence stamped with UK inaction – flown with parts shipped from British factories to Israel, could be obliterating families in seconds. Each arms shipment makes our country directly complicit in their deaths," the letter read.

Recently, the UK PM had said that "the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable," and halted trade talks with the country.

Referring to it, the signatories wrote, "You can’t call it "intolerable" and keep sending arms.

The letter ended: "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?"

Earlier this month, the UK PM slammed Israel's "egregious" renewed military offensive in Gaza and promised to take "further concrete actions" if they don't stop.

In September last year, the UK government suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing there was a "clear risk" they could be used to breach humanitarian law.

Israel has repeatedly denied committing genocide in Gaza and says it intends to crush the Palestinian militant group, Hamas after their attack in October 2023.