The United States has refused to follow Britain in suspending arms sales to Israel for fear of breaking the law in its war on Gaza.
Amid a furious row over David Lammy’s decision to suspend a small percentage of export licenses, the Biden administration said it would continue to support the country’s “defensive capabilities.”
The Foreign Secretary said on Monday that the UK would suspend 30 of 350 export licences, citing fears that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) could use weapons that use UK-made parts in breach of international law.
It sparked angry criticism from pro-Israel supporters who condemned it and from pro-Palestinians who said it did not go far enough.
The United States was informed of the move in advance, but last night US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US would not do the same.
“The United States has not determined that they have violated international humanitarian law… we will continue to do what we need to do to support Israel’s defensive capabilities,” he said.
Y U.S. State Department spokesman Matt Miller said he would use his own assessment to determine whether international law had been violated.
Amid a furious row over David Lammy’s decision to suspend a small percentage of export licenses, the Biden administration said it would continue to support the country’s “defensive capabilities.”
The Foreign Secretary said on Monday that the UK would suspend 30 of 350 export licences, citing fears that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) could use weapons that use UK-made parts in breach of international law.
The United States was informed of the move in advance, but last night US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US would not do the same. (file image)
And US State Department spokesman Matt Miller said he would use his own assessment to determine whether international law had been violated.
‘They [the UK] “They had a legal framework that they had to apply, they applied that legal framework and that led them to this decision. And of course, it is appropriate for them to make their own legal judgments, based on their system and their laws,” he said.
‘We have reviews that are ongoing. I don’t want to prejudge the conclusions of those reviews, but we are looking at a number of potential violations of international humanitarian law and we will make our own assessments based on our review of the facts and our own judgments about our laws as well as international humanitarian law.’
Boris Johnson joined Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish groups in condemning last night’s “shameful” decision.
A major diplomatic row developed over the Foreign Secretary’s move, with the Israeli Prime Minister saying Britain’s “misguided” decision would only “embolden Hamas”.
But Netanyahu vowed that his country’s “determination” to defeat them would not “change.”
Johnson questioned whether Labour was “abandoning Israel”.
The former prime minister tweeted: ‘Hamas still holding many innocent Jews hostage as Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the October massacre. ‘Why are Lammy and Starmer leaving Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?
Following Monday’s decision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu said: ‘Days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, the UK government suspended 30 arms licenses to Israel.
‘This shameful decision will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation that savagely murdered 1,200 people on 7 October, including 14 British citizens. Hamas still holds more than 100 hostages, including five British citizens.
“Instead of supporting Israel, a sister democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided decision will only embolden Hamas.”
The decision has severely strained the UK’s relationship with Israel.
Phil Rosenberg, chairman of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the decision sent a “terrible message” in Israel’s “hour of need.”
Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attend a press conference in October
Protesters stand around a fire as they protest against the government in Tel Aviv tonight.
A protester holds a banner during a protest in Tel Aviv on Monday.
Netanyahu is currently under intense pressure in Israel over his handling of the war and his efforts to recover hostages taken in the attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
Thousands of people gathered in protests across Israel for a third consecutive day of demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
Protesters blocked traffic outside the IDF military headquarters in Tel Aviv in an attempt to pressure Netanyahu’s war cabinet to find a lasting resolution and secure the return of the remaining hostages.
Others gathered outside the prime minister’s house in Jerusalem, lighting bonfires and holding up banners calling for a “stop to the war” as anger grew over a perceived stalemate in negotiations with Hamas.
The movement, which has been organizing demonstrations in the city for months, has gained support since the Israel Defense Forces recovered the bodies of six more captives from Gaza on Saturday night, all allegedly executed by Hamas days earlier.
The protesters in Tel Aviv were joined by relatives of some of those still in Gaza, who spoke critically of Netanyahu before holding a brief silence and prayer. The crowd marked the end of the silence by chanting “Everyone! Now!” calling for the full release of the hostages.
Many carried signs and flags to the events emblazoned with critical slogans including “Executed by Hamas / Abandoned by Netanyahu” and “I added clauses. The hostages died. I am sorry,” others called for a permanent ceasefire with Hamas or a new government.
The United States said it was time to “finalize” a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the war, and that Washington would work “over the coming days” with fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar “to push for a final agreement.”
