Netanyahu reacts to UK’s suspension of arms export licenses to Israel
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - NOVEMBER 21: (ISRAEL OUT) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Defence Minister Ehud Barak (not pictured), on November 21, 2012 in Jerusalem, Israel. An official ceasfire started at 9pm local time between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement after eight days of conflict resulting in the deaths of over 140 Palestinians, five Israelis and many hundreds injured. (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted to the British government’s suspension of certain arms export licenses to Israel on Tuesday, calling it a “shameful decision.”
The embattled Prime Minister was reacting to Britain’s foreign minister, David Lammy, who recently announced that 30 of 350 arms export licenses were suspended due to concerns that the equipment could be used to violate international humanitarian law.
The decision came shortly after Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza, drawing swift backlash from several Israeli ministers.
“This shameful decision will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization that savagely murdered 1,200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens,” Netanyahu stated in a social media post.
He further added, “Hamas is still holding over 100 hostages, including 5 British citizens. Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided decision will only embolden Hamas.”
Netanyahu emphasised that “with or without British arms, Israel will win this war and secure our common future.”
Lammy noted that British arms exports represent less than 1% of the total arms Israel receives, stating that the suspension would not materially impact Israel’s security. He also clarified that the decision was not a judgment on whether Israel had breached international law, as investigations into alleged war crimes by both Israeli and Palestinian leaders continue following the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel’s subsequent response in Gaza.
Since the attacks, which resulted in 1,200 deaths according to Israeli tallies, over 40,700 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities. Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders have denied allegations of war crimes.
