The United Kingdom opens the debate on the sale of weapons to Israel after the death of seven aid workers in Gaza

2024-04-03 17:56:27

The pressure on the British Government to stop the arms sales to Israel has been increasing in recent hours after the death last Monday of seven aid workers in Gaza, three of them originally from the United Kingdom. Labor, Liberal Democrat and even Conservative MPs have raised their tone this Wednesday to demand the end of arms supplya decision that the Executive has resisted making for now due to what it considers a lack of conclusive evidence that Israel is violating the international humanitarian law. The first Minister, Rishi Sunakhas described the situation in Gaza as something “increasingly intolerable”after the death of the collaborators of World Central Kitchen, the chef’s NGO Jose Andresbut still maintains exports of military material.

“We have always had a very careful export licensing regime that we adhere to. There are a number of rules, regulations and procedures that we always follow“, Sunak said in the preview of an interview with the newspaper ‘The Sun’. “Of course we support Israel’s right to defend itself and its people from attacks by Hamasbut they must do so in accordance with humanitarian law, protect civilian lives and deliver more aid to Gaza“, he added. The prime minister has demanded from his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahuto start a “independent and transparent” investigation to clarify what happened in the attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy.

Withdrawal of licenses

But requests for the Government to withdraw arms export licenses to Israel are increasingly numerous. The one who was Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Peter Ricketts has opted this Wednesday for this route to send a signal internationally. “It won’t change the course of the war, but it would be a powerful political messageand could stimulate debate also in USAsomething that would really change the rules of the game,” the former diplomat and member of the House of Lords told the BBC. A request that has been joined by the liberal democrats and Scottish nationalists, who have asked that the meeting be convened. House of Commons – currently in recess – to vote on this measure.

He Labor Party, embroiled in a deep internal division regarding the conflict in Gaza, has avoided joining the petition but has demanded that the Government stop the shipment of weapons if its legal advisors consider it proven that Israel has used them to violate international law. “The law is clear. British weapons licenses cannot be granted if there is a clear risk that the items could be used to commit or facilitate a crime. rape serious of international humanitarian law“said the Labor Foreign Affairs spokesperson, David Lammy, it’s a statement. Labor has demanded that the Executive publish the legal advice received so far to demonstrate that no violation of the law has occurred.

Government Prudence

But the Executive refuses to give details about this information. “We are reviewing advice on Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law and We will act in accordance with such advice“, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Business and Commerce has limited himself to saying. The Government has stressed that, if there is a “clear risk” If the devices are used to commit a serious violation of international law, the licenses may be “revoked, suspended or modified.”

Sunak has described J’s death as a “terrible tragedy”.ames Henderson, John Chapman y James Kirby, the three former members of the British Army who collaborated with World Central Kitchen through the security company Solace Global, according to the British press. His death has further fueled some claims what they already did days ago more than a hundred members of Parliament, through a letter sent to the Foreign Minister, David Cameron. In the letter, signed by deputies from the main parties, the signatories recall that the United Kingdom already paralyzed the sale of weapons to Israel in 1982 and 2002 and assure that the violence, on this occasion, is “much deadlier” than on the two previous occasions.

A recent UN report concluded that an F16 fighter jet, made from British parts, was likely responsible for a bombing raid on a residential complex housing volunteer doctors from several countries, including the United Kingdom. An example that, according to the deputies, highlights the lack of guarantees in respect for international law and that it must put an end to the shipment of weapons to Israel. “Continuing as before is totally unacceptable.”