The Head of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, expects the UK could halt arms sales to ‘Israel’ over risks of breaking International laws regarding potential genocides in Gaza.
Kearns said that there would be a duty upon the UK government to suspend licenses for arms exports to ‘Israel’ if it determines the British weapons could be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law, saying she would “be very surprised” if the government did not do so within a week.
UK suspension of arms sales would be significant both materially and symbolically as the British government has principly licensed at least £472m worth of military exports to ‘Israel’ since May 2015, including around 15 percent of the components of the F35 stealth combat aircraft which ‘Israel’ has used to bomb Gaza, According to Campaign Against the Arms Trade (Caat).
Her remarks on LBC Radio on Thursday evening came amid reports David Cameron, the UK Foreign Secretary, warned ‘Israel’ that arms sales will be stopped if detained Palestinians involved in the 7-October attack are denied access to the Red Cross and diplomats.
Last Thursday, Cameron also warned of fatal consequences if ‘Israel’ invades Rafah in light of Israeli restrictions on the flow of aid into Gaza.
“It is of enormous frustration that UK aid for Gaza has been routinely held up waiting for Israeli permissions,” Cameron also wrote in a letter.
Hebrew Newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli officials are concerned that Canada’s decision to block arms sales to ‘Israel’ would create “a domino effect”, and the UK suspension would confirm that fear.
Earlier this week, Canada announced it was halting arms sales to ‘Israel’ following a non-binding vote in the House of Commons
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