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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Martyrs and wounded in an Israeli bombardment that targeted a house in the Zarqa area of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip
Sweida Governorate: We call on all armed factions in the governorate to cooperate with the Interior Ministry forces and organize their weapons under the supervision of state institutions
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Intense Israeli raids and shelling targeted the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, and the occupation prevented ambulances from reaching the area
Israeli media: The suicide of a Nahal Brigade soldier at a northern base yesterday marks the third such incident in less than two weeks
China: The Chinese government announces 5.3% GDP growth in the first half of 2025.
Brazilian government: We condemn the Israeli military operations in Gaza and the killing of children, and we call for "Israel" to be held accountable for its actions.
Israeli media platform: The Degel HaTorah party, which has four members in the Knesset, announces its withdrawal from Netanyahu's cabinet.
Local Syrian sources: The raids targeted the road between the village of Al-Mazra'a and the city of Sweida, where forces and factions affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense are advancing.
Local Syrian sources: New raids carried out by Israeli warplanes targeted vehicles and gatherings of military factions affiliated with the new Syrian Ministry of Defense.
Local Syrian sources: Israeli raids target, for the third time, gatherings of Syrian Defense Forces military factions in the southern countryside of Sweida.

UK resistance mounting against arms sales to 'Israel'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Consortium News
  • 5 Apr 2024 16:51
4 Min Read

London's mayor, along with 50 Labour MPs and Winston Churchill's grandson, have joined increasing calls to challenge Israeli lack of accountability.

  • x
  • UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the steps of 10 Downing Street in central London on March 24, 2023, ahead of their meeting. (AFP)
    UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the steps of 10 Downing Street in central London on March 24, 2023, ahead of their meeting. (AFP)

Even Winston Churchill's grandson is advocating for Britain to cease supplying arms to "Israel", That's the take offered by Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Consortium News.

Conservative peer Lord Nicholas Soames stated that it's time for Britain to halt arms shipments to "Israel", particularly following the killing of seven international aid workers this week.

The sentiment against unquestioned support for "Israel" is spreading within British ruling circles, fueled by leaked audio recordings revealing the government's disregard for legal advice warning against supplying weapons to "Israel" for its ongoing genocide.

Over 600 British lawyers, academics, and retired senior judges, including three Supreme Court justices, have urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to end military aid and consider sanctions against top Israeli leaders.

The rebellion is evident across major political parties, with the Labour Party experiencing internal turmoil as London's mayor and 50 Labour MPs called for an end to arming an entity increasingly exposed for its actions. Mayor Sadiq Khan emphasized the need to hold the Israeli government accountable and insisted that arms sales to "Israel" be paused immediately. 

The dissent is spreading across major political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, who recently urged No. 10's ethics advisor to investigate whether UK arms sales violate Britain's ministerial code, emphasizing the importance of not being complicit in breaches of international humanitarian law, as reported by The Guardian.

Labour leader Keir Starmer, while attempting to unify his party on this issue, has only demanded the release of the legal advice mentioned in leaked audio recordings.

In 2023, Britain exported £42 million worth of weapons to "Israel", with figures since October 7 last year yet to be disclosed. A British decision to break ties with "Israel" over Gaza would carry significant political implications beyond the monetary value of arms transfers.

Related News

Labour's landmark victories has Sunak treading a tightrope

UK Tories suspend MP from parliament party over Islamophobic remarks

Growing Dissent: Calls to halt arms sales to "Israel" gain traction in British politics

Discontent is emerging within the ruling Conservative Party as well, the report added. Alongside Churchill's grandson, Lord Hugo Swire and three Tory MPs - Paul Bristow, Flick Drummond, and David Jones - are calling for an end to arms shipments.

Sir Alan Duncan, who faced criticism from supporters of Julian Assange for his role in orchestrating Assange's arrest in April 2019, is under investigation by the Conservative Party for potential "anti-Semitic" remarks. He raised concerns about pro-"Israel" Tory "extremists" and urged for their identification, including those in prominent government positions.

Duncan, a former minister in Theresa May's Conservative government, criticized the influence of "Conservative Friends of Israel," accusing them of serving the interests of Benjamin Netanyahu and exerting a disproportionate influence on government affairs.

David Cameron, the former Prime Minister, current Foreign Secretary, and potential future Tory leader, is allegedly facing pressure from within the party from those labeled as "extremists" due to his perceived lack of unwavering support for "Israel". Despite previously referring to Gaza as an "open-air prison" during his tenure as PM, Cameron's criticism has become more tempered. However, he is reportedly experiencing internal party pressure as a result.

The British establishment, spanning across both political parties, is experiencing significant internal division regarding Israeli actions in Gaza and Britain's involvement.

In Lauria's view, this debate should have commenced promptly, ideally within days of the Israeli assault, rather than months later. Nonetheless, it indicates a troubling shift away from unwavering support for an entity that can no longer rely on the historical persecution of its people 80 years ago to justify its actions.

In a phone call on Thursday, President Joe Biden conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that future US support for Israeli military operations could be contingent on how "Israel" treats Palestinian civilians.

Biden faces a significant risk of losing re-election primarily due to his unpopular Gaza policy, which even a majority of Democrats disapprove of. He is deviating from his natural political instincts, which typically prioritize winning at any cost. When do Biden's political maneuvers become concerning enough to be considered significant misconduct?, questions Lauria.

"When he tells Netanyahu: “No more money and no more guns.” But even “no more presidency” doesn’t seem to have yet convinced Biden to say that," Lauria concluded.

Read more: 600 UK officials say arming 'Israel' breaches international law

  • sadiq khan
  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Rishi Sunak
  • Israeli occupation
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Gaza
  • UK arms sale

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned
Politics

Al Mayadeen: UN Palestine Inquiry members reportedly resigned

Rutte, Trump
US & Canada

Trump threatens 100% secondary tariffs on Russia, sets deadline

Syrian government soldiers on a motorcycle pass by a burning tank on the outskirts of Sweida city, where clashes erupted between the Druze community and Bedouine clans, in southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli airstrikes target Syrian military factions near Sweida

Lebanon, US, disarmament
MENA

US pressure on Lebanon grows over Resistance disarmament plan

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