UK eyes suspending arms to 'Israel' if it pursues Rafah invasion
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Ministerial sources reveal that if ministers receive a legal opinion labeling "Israel" in breach of international humanitarian law, the arms suspension decision could be swiftly taken.
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IOF troops load shells onto a tank at a staging area in southern occupied Palestine near the border with Gaza on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 (AP)
Diplomatic pressure on the UK government is driving the latter to follow in the footsteps of other countries and ponder suspending arms export licenses to "Israel" if Benjamin Netanyahu proceeds with the ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Even though a decision to suspend arms export licenses to the Israeli occupation has not been taken so far, ministerial sources revealed that if ministers receive a legal opinion labeling "Israel" in breach of international humanitarian law, the arms suspension decision could be swiftly taken.
Palestinian diplomats: UK is breaching the Arms Trade Treaty
At a meeting in Geneva yesterday on the Arms Trade Treaty, Palestinian diplomats stated that UK officials have breached the treaty by refusing to revoke arms sales after the International Court of Justice ruled that "Israel" must ensure its forces did not commit acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
This is prompted by Article 6 in the treaty, which directly prohibits states from authorizing any transfer of conventional weapons if they are aware that these weapons will be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, and certain war crimes.
Palestinian representative Nada Abu Tarbush warned, “A ground incursion in Rafah will lead to mass killings on an even greater scale than the atrocities we have seen in recent months," stressing that when the history books come to be jotted down, no one in the West can profess they were clueless of the destruction.
On the other hand, British officials stated at the meeting, “We can and do respond quickly and flexibly to changing and fluid situations.”
UK FM: 'Israeli offensive in Rafah is a red line for the UK'
In the Commons, UK Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell highlighted that an Israeli offensive in Rafah constitutes a red line for the UK government as he informed the members of the parliament yesterday that the UK has been pressuring the Israeli occupation government not to launch an attack that could have “devastating consequences”.
Mitchell stated that even though, in his opinion, Hamas "has cynical tactics," he stressed to MPs, “We must recognize that Israeli soldiers will only be able to reach hostages or the Hamas leadership at an incredible cost to innocent lives. We share Israel’s desire to end the threat from Hamas and ensure it no longer exerts control over Gaza, but the UK and our partners say Israel must reflect on whether such a military operation is wise – is it counterproductive to its long-term interest?”
In private, British officials believe "Israel" is persistent in invading Rafah.
UK Foreign Secretary urges 'Israel' not to invade Rafah
In an attempt to continue nagging "Israel" to halt its plan of invading Rafah, the country's Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, has stated in a letter to the foreign affairs select committee published Tuesday regarding arms export controls to "Israel" that he could not see how the Israeli offensive on Rafah could happen without harming civilians and destructing homes.
Cameron put great effort into signaling Rafah’s importance, expressing “deep concern” about the high possibility of an offensive, stating, “We do not underestimate the devastating humanitarian impacts that a full ground offensive if enacted, would have in these circumstances."
“We continue to urge Israel to ensure that it limits its operations to military targets and take all possible steps to avoid harming civilians and destroying homes,” he added, stressing, however, that “it is difficult to see how this could be achieved. Civilians are not able to cross into Egypt nor are they able to return northwards.”
Even though Cameron's letter addressed the chair of the foreign affairs select committee Alicia Kearns, stating, “You are asking the right questions," he did engage the committee’s request to announce how many export license applications have been referred to ministers.
The UK is not due to reveal the arms export licenses granted to "Israel" in the final quarter of last year until much later this year. In 2022, Britain provided 114 standard export licenses to "Israel" worth £42m.
Dutch court rules NL must stop F-35 part deliveries to 'Israel'
A Dutch court ruled on February 12, following an appeal by human rights organizations, that the Netherlands must cease delivering parts for F-35 fighter jets used by "Israel" in its genocide in Gaza - stating that they contributed to violations of international law.
"The court orders the State to cease all actual export and transit of F-35 parts with final destination Israel within seven days after service of this judgment," the court said in the ruling, adding, "The considerations that the minister makes are to a large extent of a political and policy nature and judges should leave the minister a large amount of freedom."
