Aysu Bicer
03 September 2024•Update: 03 September 2024
LONDON
The UK's decision to partially suspend arms sales to Israel has elicited a range of responses from pro-Palestinian MPs in the Independent Alliance group and the Labour Party, expressing both criticism and cautious approval.
At least five of the seven Labour MPs who had their party whips withdrawn in July for rebelling against a vote on the two-child benefit cap have voiced their opinions on the government's suspension of 30 arms licenses to Israel, which has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza since a cross-border attack by Hamas last October.
The lawmakers, including Zara Sultana, Apsana Begum, and Imran Hussain, underscored the need for a more comprehensive halt to arms exports.
Sultana on X criticized the government for not taking decisive action. She highlighted a recent incident in which an Israeli F-35 fighter jet, partly manufactured in Britain, was used in an attack on a "safe zone" in Gaza that resulted in 90 casualties.
Despite this, the UK government chose not to suspend licenses related to F-35s.
Begum echoed Sultana’s sentiment in the House of Commons, while Hussain praised Foreign Secretary David Lammy for the review of arms sales licenses but stressed that the measures are insufficient given the scale of the reported violations of international law by Israeli forces.
Lammy’s review acknowledged a "clear risk" that UK arms might be used by the Israeli military in ways that contravene international law.
Hussain and others argue that this step falls short of the comprehensive suspension seen in other countries such as Canada, given the severity of reported violations, including attacks on aid workers, ambulances, and civilian infrastructure in Gaza.
John McDonnell, former shadow chancellor, struck a more positive tone, describing the partial suspension as a "significant step forward" while calling for further scrutiny of remaining licenses.
He urged for a total cessation of arms sales to Israel, emphasizing the need to address the broader context of alleged war crimes.
Richard Burgon also welcomed the move, describing it as a "welcome first step" while advocating for a complete end to arms sales, aligning with public sentiment that opposes continued arms exports to Israel.
In contrast, the Independent Alliance, a group of five independent MPs including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, has been more critical.
Their statement labeled the delay in acknowledging potential breaches of international law by Israel as “beyond shameful.”
The Alliance's critique targets both the Conservative and Labour parties, accusing them of inadequately addressing the issue of arms sales amid accusations of war crimes committed by Israel.
