UK's Labour calls for Israel arms sale pause
The UK's Labour Party is calling on the government to suspend arms sales to Israel amid a new offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy’s call echoes US President Joe Biden’s threat to halt exports should Israel proceed with the offensive, which is likely to endanger the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.
“President Biden is correct to tell [Israeli] Prime Minister Netanyahu that the US will not supply weapons that could be used in a Rafah offensive if Israel proceeds with a full-scale attack on Rafah against the international community’s warnings,” Lammy said, according to a report published in the Daily Telegraph.
He added: “The UK government should now work with the US to try and prevent a Rafah offensive by being clear it will assess UK exports and, if the Rafah offensive goes ahead, join our American allies in suspending weapons or components that could be used in that Rafah offensive.”
