Parliamentary pressure is mounting on the UK government to ban arms sales to Israel, amid indications that Tel Aviv intends to disregard the UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The letter signed by over 130 MPs and addressed to Foreign Secretary David Cameron highlights actions taken by other countries, the latest being Canada, which announced last week that it would halt all arms exports to Israel.
The letter, coordinated by Labour MP Zarah Sultana, was signed by 107 MPs and 27 of their peers, including former Labour Minister for the Middle East Peter Hain, Scottish National Party Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, former Shadow Minister Jess Phillips, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Conservative peer Nushina Mubarak. Other signatories include former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office John Kerr and former Minister for Work Tessa Blackstone. A total of 46 Labour MPs supported this call, along with nearly the entire Scottish National Party.
The letter states that "business as usual" for British arms exports to Israel is "totally unacceptable," pointing out that UK-made weapons are being used in Gaza. It noted a recent UN investigation which concluded that an F-16 fighter jet made from British parts may have been responsible for bombarding British doctors in Gaza. It also mentioned that during previous escalations in the conflict in Gaza, UK governments suspended arms sales to Israel, adding: "Today, the level of violence perpetrated by the Israeli military is deadlier, yet the UK government has failed to act."
