Prospect statement on Gaza and conflict in the Middle East – June 2025

Prospect notes with concern the deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the escalating military conflict between Israel and Iran which risks further escalation throughout the Middle East region.

The UN and WHO have issued stark warnings of the threat of starvation hanging over hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza. Prospect agrees with the statement of the Foreign Secretary that this situation is “abominable” and that the displacement of Gazans is “morally unjustifiable, wholly disproportionate and utterly counter-productive”.[1]

Prospect supports government sanctions against those most prominent in supporting the illegal  settler movement in the Occupied West Bank.

Prospect reaffirms our support for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and the release of all hostages unharmed. We support the government’s call for an end to the “inhumane” blockade on UN aid to Gaza by the Israeli government.[2]

We reaffirm the union’s position that the UK Government should use existing legal frameworks, like the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, to restrict arms sales to Israel where there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in the current conflict in Gaza.

Prospect will work with companies in the defence sector to protect our wider defence alliances / partnerships alongside current and future UK work content, supporting jobs and communities that are impacted by any such action.

Prospect supports the fact-finding mission of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate business enterprises involved in activities related to Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.[3] We call on the UK Government to take appropriate actions to ensure that UK based businesses respect human rights through their operations, and to challenge those identified as operating in the occupied territories that facilitate the expansion of Israeli settlements using all available policy tools to deter these activities.[4]

The government has announced that additional assets have been deployed to the Middle East region to support UK forces in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.[5] Prospect supports civilian personnel involved in providing support in the region to UK civilians and to the armed forces. Prospect supports the government’s efforts in seeking a diplomatic solution to this crisis.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territories-foreign-secretary-statement-20-may-2025

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/gaza-minister-for-the-middle-east-statement-4-june-2025

[3] https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/57/21

[4] https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/43/71

[5] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/iran-israel-conflict-foreign-secretary-statement