David Cameron says Britain will NOT suspend arms sales to Israel despite the deaths of three British veterans in an IDF airstrike in Gaza

Britain will not suspend arms sales to Israel despite the recent killing of three British veterans in an IDF airstrike in Gaza, David Cameron confirmed this evening.

Speaking in Washington DC, the Foreign Secretary said he had reviewed the latest legal advice and it had left Britain’s position “unchanged”.

The deaths of John Chapman, 57, James ‘Jim’ Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, all former members of the armed forces, have increased pressure on the government to take a tougher stance against Israel.

They were among seven aid workers killed last week when a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy was hit by an Israeli airstrike.

Calls for a halt to arms sales to Israel in the wake of the tragedy have come from MPs – including senior Tories – as well as a former national security adviser and retired senior judges.

The Secretary of State spoke tonight in Washington DC at a press conference together with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

(From left to right) John Chapman, James ‘Jim’ Henderson and James Kirby were among the aid workers killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza last week

There is global anger against Israel following the ‘outrageous’ attack on an aid convoy of three cars marked as working for the charity World Central Kitchen.

But at a press conference this evening, Lord Cameron said: ‘On Israel and international humanitarian law, as required by the UK’s robust arms export control regime, I now have the latest advice on the situation in Gaza and the Israeli conduct of their military campaign.

‘The latest assessment leaves our position on export licenses unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that I and other Ministers have received and as always we will monitor this position.

“Let me be clear: we continue to have serious concerns about the issue of humanitarian access to Gaza, both during the period under review and beyond.”

The foreign minister noted that “so far no like-minded countries have taken the decision to suspend existing arms export licenses to Israel.”

He also praised Israel as a “vital defense and security partner for Britain” but demanded that Israel’s “public commitments” to flood Gaza with aid “be translated into reality.”

Lord Cameron continued to resist pressure on the government to publish the legal advice it has received on whether Israel acted in accordance with international humanitarian law in relation to its actions in Gaza.

“We do not publish legal advice, we do not comment on legal advice, but we act in a manner consistent with that,” he said. “We are a government by law and that is as it should be.”

The The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has fired two officers over Monday’s drone attack, which it described as a “serious mistake resulting from a serious failure.”

Mishandling of critical information and violations of Army regulations were cited as reasons for the dismissal.

Three other senior officers were also reprimanded for their role in the attack, which led to widespread international condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza.

The debate over whether to suspend arms export licenses led to rumors of a cabinet split, with Lord Cameron appearing sharper in his criticism of Israel than some of his colleagues, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

On Sunday, Mr Dowden spoke out against those who “delight” in “pushing this case against Israel” and expressed concern about “the way some people are handling this issue.”

Kristyan Benedict of Amnesty International UK said: ‘It is sadly predictable that David Cameron continues to insist that there is no reason for Britain to suspend arms transfers to Israel, even after Israeli forces have killed thousands of civilians, including aid workers in Gaza .

“The Secretary of State should have told his counterparts in the US government that Britain will immediately suspend arms transfers to Israel, including the supply of parts for US-made F-35 bombers used by Israeli forces in Gaza with such atrocious consequences are used. consequences for the Palestinians.

“This was yet another missed opportunity by David Cameron to remove himself and other British officials from their current complicity in Israeli war crimes, apartheid and possible genocide.”