Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Gaza Government Media Office: The number of children martyred due to malnutrition has risen to 66
Saree: Loyal Yemen will not abandon its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people
Saree: Over the past week, we carried out military operations targeting sensitive sites and military installations in Beer al-Sabe', Yafa, and Haifa via a number of ballistic missiles and drones, which were all successful
Saree: The operation was carried out via a Zulfiqar missile, which successfully achieved its goal
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson, Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our forces carried out a top-tier military operation targeting a sensitive target in occupied Beer al-Sabe', and it was successful
Palestinian websites: Initial reports of a tough security incident the occupation army is facing in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Israeli media: The Israeli army detected a missile launch from Yemen
Al Mayadeen's correspondent from Revolution Square in Tehran: Processions from Bahrain, Iraq, and other Arab nations are in attendance
Iranians gather at Tehran’s Revolution Square for the funeral of martyrs of Israeli aggression
Maduro: I call on the Jews to stop the war madness practiced by the Zionist regime led by Netanyahu

Cameron defends UK arms sales to 'Israel', Labour MP cites war crimes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 May 2024 22:33
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron defends continued arms sales to "Israel" despite US halts and criticism from Labour MP Zarah Sultana, who accuses the government of abetting war crimes.

  • x
  • Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron delivers a speech at the National Cyber Security Centre in London, Thursday May 9, 2024. (AP)
    Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron delivers a speech at the National Cyber Security Centre in London, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP)

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated on the BBC that while he opposes a major ground offensive in Rafah, the UK will not follow in the US footsteps in halting some arms sales to "Israel". He noted that the UK contributes only 1% to "Israel's" total weapons supply and emphasized that "Israel" needs to better "protect civilians" and ensure the passage of humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, Labour's Jonathan Ashworth, among others, expressed opposition to the use of UK-made arms in Rafah.

This week, US President Joe Biden announced that the US would halt weapon supplies to "Israel" if it proceeds with its planned invasion of Rafah without setting a US-approved plan to allegedly protect Palestinians; despite the clear disregard for Palestinian life as the confirmed death toll surpasses 35,000 people.

In response, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Tel Aviv is willing to stand alone if it needs to.

According to Cameron, the last time he was pressured to halt weapons sales to "Israel" was after the Israeli occupation forces killed three UK citizens in a strike on their car, making reference to the deliberate targeting of the World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza earlier in the war.

However, Cameron then added that "a few days later there was a brutal attack by Iran on Israel," making reference to Iran's retaliation to "Israel's" bombardment of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, which left several martyred.

Subsequently, Cameron emphasized that "just to simply announce today that we will change our approach on arms exports, it would make Hamas stronger and it would make a hostage deal less likely."

Meanwhile, he expressed a commitment to "hammering away every day" to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, with nothing done on the ground in this regard.

Related News

Trump predicts Gaza ceasefire within a week

Gaza finds narcotics in US-Israeli aid, calls for global probe

The Foreign Secretary then acknowledged "Israel's" actions, admitted that "Israel's performance is not good enough," and noted that "Israel has not had a clean bill of health" in terms of facilitating humanitarian aid access in the genocide-stricken and besieged Gaza Strip.

However, Cameron once more reaffirmed the UK's policy vis-à-vis the occupation and said that the UK maintains "a different approach" and that he was "not really interested in message sending" through political moves like suspending weapons sales to Tel Aviv.

He explained, "I'm interested in what can we do to maximize the British pressure and the outcome that will help people in their lives - including getting the hostages, including British nationals, released."

Additionally, he rejected the notion of deploying British troops to Gaza, asserting that it was "a risk that we should not take."

Contradictions within the UK

In a pointed criticism of the UK government, Labour MP Zarah Sultana accused the administration of failing to adhere to its own Strategic Export Licensing Criteria by supplying weapons to "Israel". Speaking to the BBC, Sultana argued that the scale of the arms sales is inconsequential when such weapons could potentially be used in violations of international humanitarian law.

"We are aiding and abetting what are war crimes happening on a daily basis," she stated, underlining the serious nature of the ongoing genocide. 

Additionally, Jonathan Ashworth, a senior member of the shadow cabinet, expressed his concerns about the potential use of British-made weapons in a proposed full-scale offensive into Rafah, describing such a scenario as a "catastrophe beyond description." 

As such, Ashworth emphasized he did not "want to see British-made weapons used" in an invasion in Rafah.

Read more: UK executed 200 spy missions over Gaza to assist 'Israel' in genocide

  • Gaza Strip
  • Weapons to Israel
  • Israel
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • David Cameron
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS