Britain is “deeply concerned” about some of Israel’s actions in Gaza, a cabinet minister said on Monday, as pressure grows on the UK over arms sales to the country.
Work & Pensions Secretary Mel Stride insisted that there “isn’t a split” in the cabinet as ministers continue to refuse to publish legal advice about whether the Israel’s offensive has broken international humanitarian rules.
It comes after Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said Britain’s support for Israel cannot be “unconditional”.
But Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden defended the Government’s refusal to suspend weapons sales after seven aid workers, including three Britons, were killed in an Israeli strike last week.
Mr Stride told LBC: “I think the position, which is the united position that the cabinet has, is that we are a close ally and friend of Israel, we are appalled at what Israel suffered on October 7 and they have every right to defend themselves.
“But at the same time, we are a critical friend. And there are things that we are concerned about, in some cases deeply concerned about, and we are pressing very hard on.”
The Israeli military has withdrawn its forces from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis but could still mount an offensive against Hamas’s last stronghold in Rafah - despite the UK and US leading international pleas for restraint.
After six months of conflict following the October massacre by terror group Hamas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled to the city in the southern part of the Strip.
The UK’s arms exports regime would prevent the supply of weapons if there is a “clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law”.
But the Government has refused to bow to pressure from opposition parties to publish its legal guidance on Israel’s compliance with the rules.
Mr Stride said it was “long-standing convention” not to publish the advice.
Asked why the Government had published a summary of legal advice received in relation to Houthi attacks in Yemen but not on actions in Gaza, Mr Stride told Sky News: “They’re two different situations”.
“On the one hand, you’ve got a process that is entered into on an ongoing basis to assess whether licences should be provided for the export of arms.
“In the case of the Houthi action that was a direct military involvement by our country.”
