stephen signs zara sultana letter
Stephen has signed a letter authored by Labour MP, Zarah Sultana, to the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, to ban arms sales to Israel.
The letter - signed by more than 130 parliamentarians - highlights action taken by other countries, most recently Canada, which last week announced it would halt all arms exports to Israel.
Ministers are already facing calls from the shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, to publish the legal advice to ministers on whether there is a serious risk Israel is breaching international humanitarian law, something that would normally trigger a suspension of UK arms sales.
The letter argues that “business as usual” for UK arms exports to Israel is “totally unacceptable”. It says UK-made arms are being used in Gaza, noting a recent UN investigation that found an F-16 fighter jet made with UK parts was probably responsible for the bombing of British doctors in Gaza.
In two previous escalations of conflict in Gaza, the letter notes, UK governments have suspended arms sales to Israel. “Today,” the letter says, “the scale of violence committed by the Israeli military is vastly more deadly, but the UK government has failed to act”.
Having signed the letter, Stephen said: “Ministers are now in a huge muddle about this issue. I am clear - they must immediately end arms sales to Israel.”