The British government, led by Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell, continues to support Israel despite concerns over the handling of the Palestinian crisis in Rafah. Mitchell defended the government’s stance on arms sales to Israel during a hearing, facing questions from MPs regarding the decision-making process.
The MPs highlighted the lack of a credible plan from Israel to protect civilians in Rafah, leading to scrutiny over the UK’s arms export licenses. Evidence pointed to potential violations of international humanitarian law by Israeli forces, including the use of US weapons and the International Criminal Court seeking arrest warrants for top Israeli officials.
Mitchell maintained that the government follows a stringent legal process but agreed to provide more in-depth information on humanitarian law assessments. The delay in releasing quarterly arms export statistics raised further questions, with MPs criticizing the lack of transparency and information-sharing within the government.
Despite facing pressure, government officials assured the parliament that necessary data would be provided, shedding light on arms exports to Israel up to the present day. The ongoing debate surrounding UK’s arms sales to Israel reflects the complexities of international relations and humanitarian concerns.