Georgia Pearce
Guest Reporter
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have been criticised for their latest move amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Addressing MPs in the Commons on Monday, Lammy announced that the Government would be suspending arms exports to Israel due to a "clear risk" that Britain's artillery could be used to breach international law.
Lammy told the Chamber: "There does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law."
Taking to social media, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticised Labour's decision and accused Lammy and Starmer of "abandoning Israel".
Speaking to GB News, Chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, Gary Mond, expressed his fury at the "appalling" judgement of the Labour Government and their treatment of one of the country's "major allies".
Mond fumed: "It is absolutely appalling that the United Kingdom wishes to treat one of its major allies in this way.
"Israel needs those weapons, and also one has to think of how Israel is going to respond to this decision."
Mond then warned that such a move by the UK Government could result in Israel "stopping their supply of arms" to Britain, which help assist in Ukraine's war against Russia.
Mond explained: "I don't know what Benjamin Netanyahu is going to do, but don't forget the vast number of arms that Israel is supplying to the UK, particularly with the war in Ukraine.
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"It's quite possible that Israel might choose to react in a way that the United Kingdom does not like - meaning that Israel will stop supplying arms to the UK. This goes in both directions."
When pressed by host Isabel Webster on comments made by Lord Peter Ricketts that the decision is solely "protecting the integrity of the UK's arms trade", Mond strongly disagreed.
He hit back: "I don't buy that. We're in a war situation, and Israel is an ally of the United Kingdom. Israel is seeking to eradicate Hamas, which is a threat not just to Israel but to Jews everywhere. And to do so, it will need weapons.
"The weapons are being used to fight a war. We're seeking to eradicate the Hamas terrorists, and if some civilians unfortunately lose their lives during this process, that's what happens in a war."
When asked if it would aid Israel's efforts by having "observers" ensuring that the use of the UK's arms is not in breach of international law, Mond shut down the idea, claiming it was "nonsense".
Mond told GB News: "Did we have international observers when Britain was bombing Nazi Germany with a view to ending Adolf Hitler's regime? Of course we didn't.
"This is absolute nonsense - what is required is for Israel to win. Its first priority is to eradicate Hamas. That's what the Israeli government is seeking to do and has been seeking to do well."
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Addressing MPs in the Commons on Monday, Lammy announced that the Government would be suspending arms exports to Israel due to a "clear risk" that Britain's artillery could be used to breach international law.
Lammy told the Chamber: "There does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law."
Taking to social media, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticised Labour's decision and accused Lammy and Starmer of "abandoning Israel".
Speaking to GB News, Chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, Gary Mond, expressed his fury at the "appalling" judgement of the Labour Government and their treatment of one of the country's "major allies".
Mond fumed: "It is absolutely appalling that the United Kingdom wishes to treat one of its major allies in this way.
"Israel needs those weapons, and also one has to think of how Israel is going to respond to this decision."
Mond then warned that such a move by the UK Government could result in Israel "stopping their supply of arms" to Britain, which help assist in Ukraine's war against Russia.
Mond explained: "I don't know what Benjamin Netanyahu is going to do, but don't forget the vast number of arms that Israel is supplying to the UK, particularly with the war in Ukraine.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Labour MP calls for UK to provide Israel with means to defend itself
- 'Do they want Hamas to win?' Johnson blasts Labour 'abandoning Israel'
- Lammy SUSPENDS Israel arms licences after months of Palestine activists' pressure
"It's quite possible that Israel might choose to react in a way that the United Kingdom does not like - meaning that Israel will stop supplying arms to the UK. This goes in both directions."
When pressed by host Isabel Webster on comments made by Lord Peter Ricketts that the decision is solely "protecting the integrity of the UK's arms trade", Mond strongly disagreed.
He hit back: "I don't buy that. We're in a war situation, and Israel is an ally of the United Kingdom. Israel is seeking to eradicate Hamas, which is a threat not just to Israel but to Jews everywhere. And to do so, it will need weapons.
"The weapons are being used to fight a war. We're seeking to eradicate the Hamas terrorists, and if some civilians unfortunately lose their lives during this process, that's what happens in a war."
When asked if it would aid Israel's efforts by having "observers" ensuring that the use of the UK's arms is not in breach of international law, Mond shut down the idea, claiming it was "nonsense".
Mond told GB News: "Did we have international observers when Britain was bombing Nazi Germany with a view to ending Adolf Hitler's regime? Of course we didn't.
"This is absolute nonsense - what is required is for Israel to win. Its first priority is to eradicate Hamas. That's what the Israeli government is seeking to do and has been seeking to do well."
Find Out More...