Labour accused of ‘appeasing’ pro-Palestinian base after partial Israel arms ban

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Labour has been accused of “appeasing” its pro-Palestinian base after its decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel.
Nadhim Zahawi, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, called the move “unwise and misguided” and accused David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, of “prolonging the agony of Palestinian people”.
“It sends a message to Hamas and to the Iranian regime that Britain is appeasing its anti-Israeli movement faction, especially in the Labour party,” he told Talk on Tuesday.
Mr Lammy told MPs on Monday that a two-month review had found a “clear risk” that UK arms may be used to violate international humanitarian law.
Around 30 of 350 licences will be suspended, Mr Lammy said, while insisting “this is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo”.
The decision has reportedly sparked alarm in Washington, while Benjamin Netanyahu branded it “shameful” as he vowed to win Israel’s war against Hamas “with or without British arms”. 
Here’s a reminder of today’s events: 
A third night of protests have been organised in Israel by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. 
A “huge demonstration” will take place in Tel Aviv at 7pm local time (5pm UK time), with demonstrations planned outside the homes of Israel Katz, the foreign minister, and Avi Ditcher, the agricultural minister. 
“Only a powerful public protest that will shake the country will bring everyone home!” the group said.
Jordan’s foreign minister has praised the UK Government’s decision to suspend the sale of some arms to Israel and called for a “complete arms embargo” from countries across the world. 
“Unless consequences are real, Netanyahu will not end his aggression on Gaza and the West Bank, and will not stop violating international law and threatening the security of the whole region,” Ayman Safadi said.
Jordan has strong ties with both the US and Israel. 
Earlier this year, Jordanian air force jets intercepted dozens of Iranian drones that were launched at Israel. 
But political relations have strained since Israel launched its retaliatory war in Gaza following the Oct 7 attack by Hamas.
Moving away from the UK and the US, Israel’s operation in the West Bank has entered its second week. 
The counter-terror raids, launched on Aug 28, have focused on four main areas in the northern West Bank: Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus, and Tubas.
Around 27 people have been killed in the raids, according to the Palestinian health authorities. 
The UK’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel has reportedly sparked alarm in Washington.
David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, told MPs on Monday that a two-month review had found a “clear risk” that UK arms may be used in violations of international humanitarian law.
Around 30 of 350 licences will be suspended, Mr Lammy said, before insisting that “this is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo”.
ITV News reported that the White House had felt let down by the decision. “They assured us they wouldn’t do this,” a Washington source told ITV’s Robert Peston.
But both the White House and the Foreign Office played down the idea that there was division between London and Washington over the decision, or that American allies had been taken by surprise.
A source inside the Foreign Office told The Telegraph that the US had been informed of the decision before it was announced on Monday.
A US administration official pointed to different legal standards over arms sales in the UK and suggested there was no animosity over the decision to end them.
Donald Trump’s top adviser on Israel has suggested diverting $1bn in US aid for Palestine to Israel for the country to annex the West Bank.
David Friedman, who served as Trump’s ambassador to Israel, said in a new book that Trump should support a shelved Israeli plan to militarily annex the West Bank if he wins power in November.
Mr Friedman, who does not speak for the Trump campaign, said he had not yet shared his plan with the former president but hoped to do so soon. He is a former adviser to the 2016 Trump campaign.
In the book, “One Jewish State”, Mr Friedman wrote that the US should divert $1bn of its aid for Palestine to Israel to finance the plan.
“The easiest bucket to tap into and reposition is that of the United States,” he said.
Israel’s foreign minister has said the UK Government’s decision on arms sales is “disappointing” and one that sends a “problematic” message to Hamas and Iran.
Israel Katz said: “Israel is a state of law that operates in accordance with international law and has an independent and respected judicial system.
“A step like the one taken now by Britain sends a problematic message to the Hamas terrorist organization and its handlers in Iran.”
Benjamin Netanyahu “torpedoed” efforts to secure a ceasefire deal which would involve the return of hostages currently being held by Hamas, a US official told CNN.
The Israeli prime minster gave a briefing on Monday in which he refused to back down from his demand for troops to remain along the Gaza-Egypt border, which is seen as a major obstacle in securing a deal.
“This guy torpedoed everything in one speech,” the anonymous official said. 
Negotiators had reportedly continued to work on a ceasefire deal, even after the murders of six hostages by Hamas over the weekend.
More and more Conservatives, past and present, have given their reaction to the UK Government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel.
Nadhim Zahawi, the former chancellor, described the move as “unwise and misguided”, arguing that David Lammy, the foreign secretary, will come to regret his decision.
“David Lammy, his message to Israel on the day that they were burying their murdered hostages is that we will not stand shoulder to shoulder with you in defeating this terrorist organisation,” Mr Zahawi told Talk radio.
“That, for me, is tragic and wrong. I think it sends a message to Hamas and to the Iranian regime that Britain is appeasing its anti-Israeli movement faction, especially in the Labour Party.”
More than 40,819 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza since Oct 7, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Tuesday.
It said that 94,291 have also been injured during that time.
Health authorities do not differentiate between civilians and fighters in their death toll count.
A new alliance of independent MPs, led by Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, has called on the Government to go further with a total ban on the sale of weapons to Israel.
A statement released by the group said yesterday’s decision must act as a “first step” in ending all arms sales.
It continues: “We will continue to call for a total arms embargo, an end to the illegal occupation and settlement policy, and the immediate and unconditional recognition of the state of Palestine. That is the only path to a just and lasting peace.”
William Hague, a former Conservative foreign secretary and party leader, has told Times Radio that the UK Government’s decision on arms sales is unlikely to shape Israeli policy in any material way.
Lord Hague also argued on Tuesday that the decision has left the Government in a “strange position” given that it will please neither the Israelis nor those on the left of the Labour party.
“This decision … ministers are saying to the Israelis, ‘don’t worry, we’re not doing anything really here. It won’t affect your security. We’re only revoking 30 out of 350 licences. You won’t really notice it,’” he said.
“And then they’re saying to other people who pressed for, you know, a more radical, embargo and saying, ‘oh, we’re all taking action. Yes. This shows our disapproval of some of the things that Israel is doing.’
“And the result will be they’ll please neither side and just be continually caught in the argument about this…I think that’s a strange position to be in.”
Tom Tugendhat criticised the Government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel as he launched his Tory leadership bid on Tuesday.
The shadow security minister said revoking arms licenses amounted to a decision to “stand against Israel’s right to defend itself”.
“That is a remarkable decision and it will be a decision that has been heard not just in Washington and Tel Aviv but around the world because if we are not willing to stand by our allies when they are literally discovering the bodies of their murdered citizens, what is the point of an alliance?,” Mr Tugendhat told reporters.
“That is why we need to spend on defence.”
Over the last three years, Britain sold £3.1bn of weapons to Qatar, the world’s foremost sponsor of Sunni jihadism and the principal benefactor of Hamas, writes Jake Wallis Simons.
It sold £1.9bn’s worth to Saudi Arabia, which has been engaged in a bloody war in Yemen that has not, shall we say, been fought entirely according to democratic norms.
Turkey, which has crushed the Kurds once again with less concern for human rights than one might hope, received £799m in British arms. The United Arab Emirates, often viewed as a dictatorship in Whitehall, purchased a £416m cache, while the Egyptian police state was able to buy a £318m arsenal as it continued its flirtation with Islamism and enthusiasm for corruption.
By contrast, Israel, the Middle East’s sole democracy and the only power to respect the rights of women and minorities, which is locked in an existential struggle against the forces of jihadism that menace us all, bought £83m of British arms, a sum that constitutes just 1 per cent of its total weapons purchases.
Yet it is the Jewish state that attracted David Lammy’s criticism yesterday, as he announced that he was suspending 30 arms export licences to Jerusalem amid misinformation that it has been prosecuting the war in Gaza to excess.
Read the full story here.
We just reported that Andrew Mitchell, the shadow foreign secretary, believes the decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel was “designed to satisfy Labour’s backbenches”. 
But for Nadia Whittome, a backbench Labour MP, the Government “must go further and ramp up the pressure for a ceasefire by ending all arms sales to Israel”. 
Zarah Sultana, who temporarily had the Labour whip removed for voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, also said the decision does not go far enough. 
The MP said: “ALL arms sales to Israel must end.”
Apsana Begum, who is also temporarily suspended, said the same on Monday after David Lammy’s announcement.
Yesterday it was confirmed an Israeli F-35 fighter jet – made in part in Britain – was instrumental in a recent attack on a “safe zone” in Gaza, killing 90 people.Hours later the UK government refused to suspend licences pertaining to F-35s.ALL arms sales to Israel must end.
Andrew Mitchell, the shadow foreign secretary, has joined Sir Ephraim Mirvis’ criticism of the timing behind the UK’s decision to suspend arms sales to Israel.
Mr Mitchell said: “Announcing an arms embargo on the day when Israel is burying its murdered hostages, and within weeks of British military personnel and arms defending Israel from Iranian attack, is not easy to swallow.
“Having now looked at Labour’s memorandum, it has all the appearance of something designed to satisfy Labour’s backbenches, while at the same time not offending Israel, an ally in the Middle East. I fear it will fail on both counts.”
Another strong statement in opposition to David Lammy and Sir Keir Starmer’s arms sales decision has come from Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the UK’s chief rabbi. 
Sir Ephraim said “it beggars belief” that such a decision was taken just days after the murders of six Israeli hostages by Hamas.
He said: “This announcement feeds the falsehood that Israel is in breach of International Humanitarian Law, when in fact it is going to extraordinary lengths to uphold it. 
“Sadly, this announcement will serve to encourage our shared enemies. It will not help to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages, nor contribute to the peaceful future we wish and pray for, for all people in the region and beyond. 
“Britain and Israel have so much to gain by standing together against our common enemies for the sake of a safer world. Surely that must be the way forward.”
It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licences, at a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts forced upon it on the 7th October, and at the very moment when six…
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, vowed on Tuesday to win the war against Hamas “with or without British arms” in a furious rebuke to the UK Government. 
Mr Netanyahu started his statement by pointing out that five Brits are still being held by Hamas following the Oct 7 attacks. 
The Israeli prime minister continued: “This shameful decision will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that savagely murdered 1200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens.”
Mr Netanyahu continued to defend Israel’s war against Hamas, insisting it was “just” and “fully compliant with international law”. 
He concluded: “Just as Britain’s heroic stand against the Nazis is seen today as having been vital in defending our common civilization, so too will history judge Israel’s stand against Hamas and Iran’s axis of terror.”
Days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, the UK government suspended thirty arms licenses to Israel.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage. 
We’re bringing you the latest updates on the fallout from the UK’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel.