Catholic Priests write to PM urging his government to take decisive action on Palestine

Source: Priests Against Genocide UK and Ireland

A group of Catholic priests ministering across the United Kingdom and Ireland, writing on behalf of the international network Priests Against Genocide - which includes three Cardinals, 28 Bishops and more than 2,500 Catholic priests and deacons in 67 countries - has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging his government to take decisive action on Palestine.

The letter welcomes the Prime Minister's own description of events in Gaza as "a scar on our collective conscience," and acknowledges steps the government has already taken, including the partial suspension of arms licences, the pause in trade talks, and sanctions on individuals linked to settler violence. But the priests argue that, measured against what the United Nations has now formally called genocide, these measures remain insufficient.

The letter cites the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which concluded in June 2026 that Israeli security forces and authorities have deliberately targeted Palestinian children, amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, and war crimes in the West Bank. It also notes findings from Save the Children UK that at least 265 children have been killed in Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire, and that Palestinian children remain among the most vulnerable to death and injury from explosive weapons anywhere in the world.

Echoing calls already made by CAFOD, Save the Children UK, other aid agencies, and a cross-party letter signed by 80 MPs and Peers, the priests ask the government to take three concrete steps:

Recognise the UN Commission of Inquiry's finding of genocide, and implement the International Court of Justice's ruling in full.

Ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements - as CAFOD's current petition to Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP asks, following the lead already taken by Spain and Ireland - and suspend the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.

Impose a full arms embargo, including the export of British-made components for F-35 fighter jets, and introduce comprehensive sanctions against those responsible for these violations.

The letter also expresses concern that the government has so far declined to act on any of these three demands, and notes that the Foreign Secretary's first statement in office referred to "Russia's illegal war in Ukraine" while describing events in Palestine only as "conflict in the Middle East."

The priests frame their appeal not as a partisan intervention but as an expression of their vocation and of Catholic Social Teaching - a tradition they note has also shaped the Prime Minister's own political formation. While affirming their total opposition to any form of antisemitism, the signatories write that they stand ready to support "any politician from any party" who acts in line with that same teaching, and pledge to keep Mr Burnham in their prayers.

The full letter text follows:

19 August 2026
The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister,

We are Catholic priests who minister in different parts of the UK. We belong to an international group called Priests Against Genocide. It is a group which includes three Cardinals, 28 Bishops and over 2,500 Catholic Priests and Deacons present in 67 countries.

We were heartened to hear you describe what is happening in Gaza as "a scar on our collective conscience."

The Bible tells us: "Mercy and truth have met each other; justice and peace have embraced. Truth has risen from the earth, and justice looks down from heaven" (Psalm 85:10-11).

We write to ask that this meeting of mercy and truth, of justice and peace, be reflected not only in your private faith but in the policy of your government.

We recognise, the steps the government has already taken: the partial suspension of arms licences, the pause in trade talks, the sanctions imposed on individuals linked to settler violence. These steps are so important

But we write because, set against the scale of what the UN has now formally called genocide, they
remain, in our judgement and that of many of your own backbenchers, insufficient.

In June 2026, the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israeli
security forces and authorities have deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, and war crimes in the West Bank. Save the Children

UK reports that at least 265 children have been killed in Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement and that Palestinian children remain among the most vulnerable to death and injury from explosive weapons anywhere in the world.

You yourself said, on taking office, that the UK must "do more to put pressure on the Israeli Government." We ask that you now make good on those words. We echo the call made by CAFOD, Save the Children UK and other aid agencies, and we join the cross-party letter of 80 MPs and Peers, in asking your government to take three concrete steps:

1. Recognise the UN Commission of Inquiry's finding of genocide, and implement the International Court of Justice's ruling in full.

2. Ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements - as CAFOD's current petition to Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP asks, following the lead already taken by Spain and Ireland - and suspend the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.

3. Impose a full arms embargo, including the export of British-made components for F-35 fighter jets, and introduce comprehensive sanctions against those responsible for these violations.

We were troubled to learn that the government has so far declined to act on any of these demands and the Foreign Secretary's first statement in office described, "Russia's illegal war in Ukraine" while referring to events in Gaza only as "conflict in the Middle East."

In writing to you now, our advocacy on behalf of the suffering people of Gaza is not simply a political appeal, but an expression of our vocation as priests and the Gospel call to stand alongside those whose rights and dignity have been so seriously violated by the state of Israel.

As priests we make our appeal in the context of our commitment to the Gospel and to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. It goes without saying we are totally opposed to any form of antisemitism.

We are conscious too that Catholic Social Teaching has been an important influence on your own political outlook and your vision for a just world.

Given your value system you are uniquely placed at the head of this government, to close the gap between what Britain says it stands for and what it is currently willing to do.

We stand with you, a Prime Minister who has been formed in the same Catholic Social Teaching as ourselves. This issue is something over and beyond party politics and we want to support you and any politician from any party; in everything you try to do along the lines of that same teaching.

Please be assured, we are praying for you in our churches and individually as well.

Yours sincerely

On behalf of Priest Against Genocide - UK and Ireland

Father Denis Blackledge SJ., Dorset
Father Pat Browne, London
Father Gabriel Dolan SPS, Fermanagh
Father Anton Fernandopoulle, Liverpool
Father Joseph McCullough SPS, Surrey
Father Ned Wall, Greater Manchester