Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Britain’s decision to suspend some arms sales to the country was “shameful”.
He said on social media: “Britain’s wrong decision will not join Israel, a democratic country, in defending itself against barbaric acts, but will only make Hamas more arrogant.”
His comments came after Defense Secretary John Healey insisted the UK remained a “staunch ally” and told the BBC Israel’s security would not be undermined by the suspension of around 30 of its 350 export licenses.
The minister said the weapons could be used in Gaza in violation of international law. But rights group Amnesty International UK said the measures were “too limited”.
Others criticized the timing of the announcement, which came on the same day as funerals for six hostages killed by Hamas last week.
Mr Healy told BBC Breakfast it was “painful” to see the faces of the dead hostages, but explained the timing had been chosen “because it is a legal process” and the need to report to parliament.
British Foreign Secretary David Lamy said on Monday UK to suspend issuing 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israelaffecting equipment such as fighter jets, helicopters and drone parts.
Mr Healy told BBC Breakfast that the products were chosen because they complement Gaza’s equipment for “offensive purposes” and that “the vast majority of other components our country exports to Israel either have nothing to do with the conflict.” , or possibly for Israel’s defense.”
British arms sales to Israel are small compared with other allies, accounting for only 1% of the country’s defense imports.
The UK exports arms to a number of countries including Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that the United States is by far Israel’s largest arms supplier, accounting for 69% of Israel’s main conventional arms imports between 2019 and 2023.
Amnesty International UK accused the government of “posture politics” after less than 10 per cent of arms export licenses were suspended.
Sacha Deshmukh, the charity’s chief executive, said the restrictions were “too limited and full of loopholes”.
“[The] The decision means that while ministers apparently acknowledged that Israel may have committed war crimes in Gaza, [the government] Despite this, Israeli forces continue to risk committing war crimes, apartheid and possible genocide in Gaza,” he said.
The nonprofit has continually called for a ceasefire and to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Netanyahu said on social media: “With or without British weapons, Israel will win this war and secure our common future.
“Britain’s wrong decision will not stand up to Israel, a democratic country, against barbaric acts. It will only make Hamas more arrogant.”
Asked about comments by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson accusing the government of “abandoning Israel”, Healey insisted Britain would support Israel in self-defence if it came under direct attack.
Criticism also came from within the Labor Party.
Former shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said the timing was “unfortunate”.
She told BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight program on Monday: “I suspect what they want is that as soon as they get legal advice they want to tell parliament immediately but I think that’s unfortunate because of all the funerals .
Ms Thornberry also said she expected the government to receive a “detailed summary” of legal advice on the weapons amid questions over the continued supply of F35 jet parts.
Healy said parts from the F35 were “deliberately” not included in the suspension because they were used by 20 countries and it was “difficult to distinguish” which parts would be used on the Israeli aircraft.
Zarah Sultana, now an independent MP after being suspended from Labor, called for a halt to all arms sales to Israel.
Coventry South MP wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the F35 jet is “the world’s deadliest”.
Former national arms adviser Lord Peter Ricketts told BBC Radio 4’s Today program the government’s decision was “long overdue”.
Lord Ricketts told the BBC in April Israeli strike kills seven aid workers Britain should stop selling weapons to Israel, claiming there is “substantial evidence” that it is failing to meet its obligations to civilian security.
“There comes a point where the legal advice is so clear that the government is obliged to follow it,” he told the BBC in a recent interview.
Israel has repeatedly denied targeting civilians in its military operation in Gaza, which was launched in response to Hamas’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 that left some 1,200 people dead and 251 detained. as hostages.
Since then, more than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
