3 weeks ago
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the UK's determination to suspend immoderate arms income to the state is "shameful".
"Instead of lasting with Israel, a chap ideology defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided determination volition lone embolden Hamas," helium said connected societal media.
His comments travel aft UK Defence Secretary John Healey insisted the UK remained a "staunch ally", telling the BBC Israel's information would not beryllium weakened by the suspension of astir 30 retired of 350 export licences
Ministers accidental the weapons could beryllium utilized successful Gaza to interruption planetary law. But quality rights radical Amnesty International UK said the measures were "too limited".
Others person criticised the timing of the announcement, coming connected the aforesaid time funerals took spot for six hostages killed by Hamas past week.
Mr Healey told BBC Breakfast it was "agonising" seeing the faces of the dormant hostages but explained the timing was "driven by the information that this was a ineligible process" and the request to study to Parliament.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said connected Monday the UK would beryllium suspending 30 retired of 350 arms export licences to Israel, affecting instrumentality specified arsenic parts for combatant jets, helicopters and drones.
Talking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Healey said these were chosen due to the fact that they supplement instrumentality utilized successful Gaza for “offensive purposes”, portion the “vast bulk of different parts our state exports to Israel are either not related to the struggle oregon possibly utilized for Israel’s defence".
UK arms income to Israel are tiny successful examination to different allies, contributing conscionable 1% of the country’s defence imports.
The UK exports arms to aggregate countries including Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The US is by acold the largest supplier of arms to Israel, accounting for 69% of its imports of large accepted arms betwixt 2019 and 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Amnesty International UK accused the authorities of "gesture politics" fixed little than 10% of arms export licences were suspended.
The charity's main executive, Sacha Deshmukh, said the restrictions were "too constricted and riddled with loopholes".
“[The] determination means that portion ministers seemingly judge that Israel whitethorn beryllium committing warfare crimes successful Gaza, [the government] is nevertheless continuing to hazard complicity successful warfare crimes, apartheid - and imaginable genocide - by Israeli forces successful Gaza," helium said.
The non-profit organisation has continuously called for a ceasefire and for humanitarian assistance to beryllium allowed into Gaza.
On societal media, Mr Netanyahu said: "With oregon without British arms, Israel volition triumph this warfare and unafraid our communal future.
"Instead of lasting with Israel, a chap ideology defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided determination volition lone embolden Hamas."
Asked astir comments made by erstwhile Prime Minister Boris Johnson who accused the authorities of "abandoning Israel", Mr Healey insisted the UK would enactment Israel successful defending itself if it came nether nonstop attack.
Criticism has besides travel from wrong the Labour Party.
Former shadiness overseas caput Emily Thornberry said the timing was “unfortunate”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World Tonight programme connected Monday, she said: “I fishy that what was wanted was erstwhile they got the ineligible advice, they wanted to travel successful and archer Parliament astir it consecutive away, but I deliberation that it was unfortunate fixed each the funerals."
Ms Thornberry besides said she expected a “detailed summary" of the ineligible proposal the authorities had received implicit arms, amid questions implicit the continued proviso of parts for F35 jets.
Mr Healey said components for F35s were “deliberately” not included successful the suspension arsenic they are utilized by 20 countries and it would beryllium "hard to distinguish" which components would spell into Israeli jets.
Zarah Sultana, who is presently sitting arsenic an autarkic MP aft being suspended from the Labour Party, has called for an extremity to each arms income to Israel.
Writing connected X, formerly Twitter, the MP for Coventry South described the F35 jets arsenic “the astir lethal successful the world”.
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