Israel has responded furiously to Britain’s decision to clamp down on arms sales, saying it is deeply disheartened by the drop in support.
THE BRITISH DECISION
Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the Commons Monday afternoon that the government is halting 30 out of around 350 licences for military equipment in light of new legal advice.
AS IT IS
The move triggered an angry response from Israel, which is mourning six hostages murdered by Hamas at the weekend.
It also risks a rift with the United States, which has so far rejected calls from campaigners to limit arms sales to Israel as the country seeks to respond to the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists.
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WORDS FROM ISRAEL
Isarel’s minister of defence, Yoav Gallant said he was ‘deeply disheartened’ by the UK Government’s decision.
‘This comes at a time when we fight a war on seven different fronts – a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organisation, unprovoked,’ he said.
‘At a time when we mourn six hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home.’
Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz added that the partial arms embargo is ‘a step that sends a very problematic message to the terrorist organisation Hamas and its agents in Iran.’
Some experts said the move was largely symbolic. British arms sales to Israel totalled just £18.2million last year.
The action comes after widespread calls from pro-Palestinian groups for sales to the Netanyahu regime to be halted to try to prevent more bloodshed in Gaza.
