In a heated exchange during Prime Minister’s Questions, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer adamantly refused to stop arms sales to Israel, despite mounting violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Independent MP Zarah Sultana pressed Starmer on the issue, citing alleged war crimes and a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza with a death toll surpassing 118,000 according to US medical research.
Sultana specifically pointed out the use of F-35 fighter jets by Israel, urging Starmer to end the UK’s “complicity in war crimes.” However, Starmer defended the government’s stance, stating that banning all arms sales would leave Israel defenseless in the face of escalating tensions, including attacks from Iranian forces and the anniversary of Oct. 7.
The exchange highlighted the deep divide within the Labour Party, with Sultana, a vocal critic of the government’s foreign policy, having lost the party whip in 2024. Despite the passionate appeals, Starmer remained resolute, refusing to change his position on arms sales to Israel.