UK: Labour MP Zarah Sultana tables amendment calling for end of Israel arm sales
Labour MP Zarah Sultana has tabled an amendment to the upcoming king's speech, calling for an end to British arms sales to Israel.
The king's speech is used by the British government to outline its policies for the upcoming parliamentary session and will be the first under newly elected Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In an opinion piece for the Guardian on Wednesday, Sultana said British made parts are used in Israeli F35 warplanes, which have been used to target Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
"This is just one example of Israel’s use of British-made arms in its assault on Gaza. But after almost 10 months and 38,000 Palestinians killed, to their eternal shame the Conservatives left office refusing to suspend arms sales," she wrote, adding: "This responsibility now falls to Labour."
With tens of thousands dead and much of Gaza laid to waste, Israel is now subject of two major international court cases.
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Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after South Africa filed a case in December, which is backed by dozens of states, including Spain, Ireland, Turkey and Colombia, amongst others.
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC), meanwhile, have also applied for arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes. The warrants have yet to be granted by the court.
Sultana's column makes reference to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy's own comments on the necessity of upholding international law.
"The law is clear. British arms licences cannot be granted if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” Lammy said.
Past precedent
Sultana also cites past precedent in Britain for halting arms sales to Israel, including under former prime ministers Tony Blair in 2002, Gordon Brown in 2009 and David Cameron in 2014.
"In January, the International Court of Justice ruled that there is a 'plausible' risk of genocide in Gaza. As a signatory, the UK government is legally obliged to prevent and punish genocide," Sultana said.
The 30-year-old MP is considered to be on the left-wing of the Labour Party and was an ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was suspended from the parliamentary party in 2020 and later expelled for standing against the party in the July general election.
Labour under Starmer has shifted its position heavily towards Israel with the now prime minister appearing to back Israel's blockade of food, water, power and other essentials in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks by Hamas-led Palestinian fighters, and initially opposing calls for a ceasefire.
The party has since moderated its position, calling for an immediate ceasefire and recognition of a Palestinian state.
However, the extent to which it is willing to match its rhetoric with action remains to be seen. Earlier this week, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that the UK would not drop its objection to the ICC case against Netanyahu despite earlier reports that a Labour government would do so.
The move is believed to have been a result of lobbying by American officials on behalf of Israel.
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