JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the British government made a “shameful decision” when it suspended some arms export licenses to Israel.
Britain’s foreign minister David Lammy said on Monday that the government had suspended 30 of 350 arms export licenses with Israel due to a risk the equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The decision, which came a day after Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza, was quickly denounced by a number of Israeli ministers.
“This shameful decision will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that savagely murdered 1,200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens,” Netanyahu said in a social media post.
“Hamas is still holding over 100 hostages, including 5 British citizens. Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided decision will only embolden Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
“With or without British arms, Israel will win this war and secure our common future.”
Soon after Britain’s Labour Party won an election in July, Lammy said he would update a review on arms sales to ally Israel to ensure these complied with international law.
British exports amount to less than 1 percent of the total arms Israel receives, and the minister said the suspension would not have a material impact on Israel’s security and Britain continued to support its right to self-defense.
Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders are being investigated for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas in southern Israel which killed 1,200 people, by Israeli tallies.
The Israeli response in Gaza has killed more than 40,700 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Lammy said Monday’s decision was not a judgment on whether Israel had breached international law or not. Israel and Palestinian leaders have dismissed allegations of war crimes.
Netanyahu says ‘shameful’ of UK to halt some arms export licenses to Israel
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Netanyahu says ‘shameful’ of UK to halt some arms export licenses to Israel
- “This shameful decision will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu said
- “Hamas is still holding over 100 hostages, including 5 British citizens”
Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in Gaza, local authorities say
- The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the reported incidents
CAIRO: Israeli forces shot and killed at least three Palestinians in separate incidents in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Sunday, local health authorities said.
Medics reported that the dead included a 15-year-old boy, a fisherman killed outside areas still occupied by Israel in the enclave, and a third man who was shot and killed east of the city in areas under Israeli control.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the reported incidents.
Israel has carried out repeated air strikes since a ceasefire took effect in October, saying they are aimed at preventing attacks or destroying militant infrastructure.
Gaza’s health ministry says 420 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, while militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.
Israel and Hamas have traded blame for violations of the ceasefire agreement brokered under US President Donald Trump.
Israel retained control of 53 percent of Gaza under the first phase of Trump’s plan, which involved the release of hostages held by militants in Gaza and of Palestinians detained by Israel.
The final hostage remains to be handed over are those of an Israeli police officer killed on October 7, 2023 — the day Gazan militants invaded Israel, killing 1,200 and taking some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies.
