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
US President Donald Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, beginning Gulf trip that includes Qatar, UAE.
Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) chief Abdel Ghani al-Kikli confirmed dead.
Gunfire heard in various areas of the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Libyan sources: The Ministry of Interior urges all citizens in Tripoli to remain in their homes.
Libyan sources: Air traffic halted at Tripoli Airport following reports of the death of Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) chief Abdel Ghani al-Kikli.
Libyan sources: Clashes and military movements reported inside the capital, Tripoli.
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanese officials must also prioritize rebuilding the state economically and socially, as well as returning the depositors’ funds.
Sheikh Qassem: The second priority is reconstruction, and I call on the Lebanese government to place this item first on the agenda of its next session.
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanese officials must prioritize ending Israeli aggression, its violations, its occupation, and securing the release of prisoners.
Sheikh Qassem: We are part of the new era and partners in its benefits, and we want those who previously took certain stances for specific reasons to reconsider them in order to build the country.

UK MPs pressure government to halt all arm supplies to 'Israel'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 27 Mar 2024 15:06
4 Min Read

Over 130 MPs have signed a letter to cut off arms supply to the Israeli occupation, amid the latter's breach of international humanitarian law and the newly passed ceasefire.

  • x
  • Pro-Palestinian protesters hold up flags during a demonstration in London, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 as they demand for a full cease fire and an end to the siege of Gaza. (AP)
    Pro-Palestinian protesters hold up flags during a demonstration in London on Saturday, February 3, 2024, as they demand a full ceasefire and an end to the siege of Gaza. (AP)

The United Kingdom's government came under growing pressure to halt all arms sales to the Israeli occupation after the passing of a ceasefire resolution at the United Nations Security Council, one that "Israel" has breached. 

A report by The Guardian revealed that over 130 parliamentarians signed a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Cameron presenting actions taken by other countries, notably Canada's decision to suspend arms sales to "Israel". 

Just two days ago, two legal groups – Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and Al-Haq – revealed that they were separately preparing for an oral hearing to ask permission for a judicial review of the government’s refusal to stop sending arms to "Israel". 

“Given the gravity of the situation in Gaza, the degree of public and parliamentary interest, and the risks to the credibility of the UK’s export controls regime, there is a compelling case to publish the government’s legal advice,” Lammy wrote in a letter to Cameron, adding that licenses for arms exports should not 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."

Conducting regular business 'totally unacceptable'

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy has consequently been asking for legal advice on "Israel's" breach of international humanitarian law, which would normally compel the UK to suspend military sales to the occupation. 

The letter, coordinated by Labour MP Zarah Sultana, was signed by 107 members of Parliament, and 27 additional peers. A total of 46 Labour MPs and almost the entirety of the SNP parliamentary party echoed the call.

Related News

'Island of strangers': Starmer unveils crackdown plan on immigration

Labour split over UK-'Israel' trade deal widens amid Gaza genocide

In detail, the letter calls conducting regular business with "Israel" in the arms sale sector "totally unacceptable", noting that homemade weapons are being utilized against Gazan civilians. Moreover, the letter highlighted how an F-16 fighter jet, manufactured with UK-made auto parts, was responsible for the targeting and bombing of British doctors operating in Gaza. 

Moreover, the address noted precedents of the UK suspending arms sales to "Israel" during previous wars in Gaza but questioned the government's decision to maintain them amid a far more brutal genocide. 

Read more: UK not to disclose details of Israeli military planes landing in UK

Legal judgment needed

Cameron, on his part, has been increasingly criticizing "Israel's" policies, but cannot alone make the move to stop arms sales to the occupation. The Guardian reported the process, which entails "complex legal judgment" that simultaneously considers the occupation's "effort to minimize civilian casualties."

In this context, it is vital to note that "Israel" committed eight massacres on Tuesday, killing 81 and injuring 93. This brings the total number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7 to 32,414, in addition to 74,787 injured.

Katie Fallon, the advocacy manager at Campaign Against the Arms Trade, asserted that the government's reaction to a prohibition on arms sales had "ranged from stonewalling MPs, repeating meaningless answers, and most concerningly, going to great lengths to ensure that legal advice from the Foreign Office never definitively admits there is a 'clear risk' Israel might use these arms exports in a serious violation of international humanitarian law."

This comes at a time when governments like Canada, and human rights organizations such as Oxfam, Save the Children, Amnesty, Christian Aid, and Islamic Relief have all collectively urged for the end of military sales to "Israel".

While Canada is not a major arms supplier to "Israel" compared to other countries, the concern is that this move could lead to a larger trend among Western nations who might follow suit, creating a domino effect of countries halting arms sales to the entity, the Israeli Globes website reported.

Read more: 'No plan B' to secure UNRWA funds, UN can't print money: UN spox

  • Labour Party
  • Arms sale
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • United Kingdom
  • Gaza
  • David Cameron

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem gives a speech to commemorate martyr Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine on May 12, 2025 (Al Mayadeen Screengrab)
Politics

Israeli pressure doomed to fail, Resistance to prevail: Sheikh Qassem

AP
Politics

'Israel is spiraling' amid Gaza war, internal fractures: The Nation

UNIFIL
Politics

'Israel' hindering Lebanese Army deployment in south: UNIFIL

The scene at BBC Broadcasting House in London, after red paint was sprayed over the entrance. (AP)
Politics

UK journalists given guidebook after failing on covering Gaza genocide

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