DAVID Lammy has been slammed for insisting that a full arms embargo on Israel would be a “mistake”.
Speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event on Sunday, the Foreign Secretary suggested suspending export licences that could be used by Israel against Houthi rebels and other proxies in the region would lead to a “wider war”.
The UK has suspended some export licences to Israel over concerns the country is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza, but some have argued stronger action is needed including a full arms embargo.
But Lammy said he didn’t agree with that, further claiming that the UK Government have already “suspended those licences that could be used to breach international humanitarian law in Gaza”.
Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, hit out at Lammy’s comments – describing them as “Orwellian in its inversion of reality”.
He also said it is “simply wrong” to claim that the UK has suspended all licenses which could break international law in Gaza.
“This ignores the verified fact that F35 jets were used by Israel to perpetrate a massacre in Al Mawasi in July which killed more than 90 Palestinians and David Lammy is allowing the continued sale of components for those jets,” Jamal said.
“David Lammy is also wilfully ignoring the responsibilities of the UK as outlined in the ICJ judgment, not to aid and abet a genocide, and in the UNGA resolution passed last week not to supply weapons that support Israel’s illegal occupation.
“The test for David Lammy is simple - he either supports the universal application of International law and acts accordingly to ban all weapons sales or he doesn't.”
The SNP, meanwhile, also condemned Lammy’s comments and the Labour Government's wider policy on Gaza.
SNP Depute Leader, Pete Wishart (above), said Keir Starmer’s party have show “no courage or leadership” since the war on Gaza started last year.
“It is not nearly good enough for Labour to suspend only less than 10% of UK arms licenses to Israel when we see the horrendous scale of the crimes against humanity unfolding in Gaza and more innocent lives being lost every day,” he said.
“People want and deserve to see real action for the UK government but it is clear Labour is unwilling to stand up for what is right and end all arms sales to Israel.
"The SNP has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, an end to all arms sales and for Palestine to be recognised as a state in order to ensure lasting peace.”
In his conference appearance, Lammy also said he was “deeply, deeply concerned” by events in the West Bank and left the door open for possible sanctions for those engaging in “escalatory behaviour”.
“I’m not announcing further sanctions today but that is kept under close review,” the Foreign Secretary told delegates.
“As you would expect, I’m deeply, deeply concerned by what I’ve seen at this point in time.”
Asked whether he was referring to events in the West Bank, he said: “Yes.”
