More than 100 diplomats with a sharp call to Macron and Burnham: "Palestine is disappearing before our eyes"

More than 100 former British and French diplomats have written an urgent letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and President Emmanuel Macron, warning that Palestine is disappearing before our eyes. The letter, signed by 52 former French diplomats and 50 former British ambassadors, calls for decisive action against Israel, accusing it of carrying out ethnic cleansing and systematically destroying Gaza. The letter was sent on August 22, 2026, and highlights the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, including the destruction of buildings by Israeli forces. It underscores the deepening humanitarian crisis, with over 1,200 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023, and millions living under occupation with limited access to basic necessities. The signatories include many high-ranking officials with extensive experience in the Middle East, emphasizing their authority and credibility on the region’s complex issues. The authors argue that both Britain and France, due to their historical role in shaping the modern Middle East, bear a special responsibility to address one of the core unresolved questions in the region, ensuring equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians. Both countries recognized Palestine as a state in 2025, yet they continue to support policies that hinder the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The letter criticizes Israeli settlement-building, home demolitions, and military campaigns, which reduce the prospects for a viable Palestinian state. Among the seven specific demands outlined in the letter, former diplomats call for respect for international court rulings, a halt to arms deliveries and military cooperation with Israel, restrictions on trade relations, and a ban on trading goods produced in Israeli settlements. They also urge unrestricted humanitarian aid access to Gaza and pressure on companies and individuals financing or constructing Israeli settlements. The letter was addressed to the media offices of The Guardian and Le Monde, indicating its broader political intent. The signatories stress that nothing justifies Israel's policy of destroying Gaza and its civilian population. They condemn the suffering of Palestinians under occupation, noting that while Hamas committed atrocities on October 7, 2023, this does not justify Israel’s systematic destruction of Gaza. They argue that the world no longer sees Israel as a legitimate democracy, given the denial of fundamental rights and land to others. In Gaza, two million Palestinians live on 30 percent of the territory, facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. In eastern Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank, Palestinian homes are being demolished while Israeli settlements expand, with the complicity of Israeli security forces. This, the letter states, constitutes ethnic cleansing. The authors warn that the occupation and destruction policies are spreading into Lebanon and Syria, where numerous villages have been destroyed. This, they say, is a stain on humanity that Britain and France must address. The letter concludes with a clear call for immediate action, urging both nations to take firm steps to stop the ongoing violations and protect the rights of the Palestinian people. The signatories emphasize that the time for passive observation has passed, and that the international community must act decisively to prevent further loss of life and dignity.