UK arms ban for Israel would help Hamas – Cameron
By Sam Francis
The UK has no plans to copy the US and stop some arms sales to Israel if it launches a major ground operation in Rafah, according to David Cameron.
The foreign secretary told the BBC he does not support Israel’s plans for a ground offensive in Rafah but ending arms sales would “make Hamas stronger”.
He added the UK supplies only 1% of Israel’s weapons.
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said he did not want British-made weapons used in Rafah.
This week US President Joe Biden upended part of one of the world’s most significant strategic relationships by saying the US are “not supplying the weapons ” if Israel went ahead with a planned invasion of Rafah – the southern Gazan city where about 1.4 million people have been sheltering.
Israel has said it will proceed with planned operations in Rafah despite the US and other allies warning that a ground offensive could lead to mass civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to eliminate Hamas battalions that Israel says are based in Rafah.
