Keir Starmer received stern words from his Israeli counterpart over the UK’s “absurd” decision to introduce a partial arms embargo.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Israel’s Prime Minister said: “They say that Israel has the right to defend itself, but they undermine our ability to exercise that right both by reversing Britain’s position on the absurd allegations made by the ICC [International Criminal Court] prosecutor against Israel and by blocking weapons sales to Israel as we fight against the genocidal terrorist organisation that carried out the October 7 massacre.”
He went on: “These misguided decisions will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas [which] savagely murdered 1,200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens, and took 255 people including five British hostages.”
“Just as Britain’s heroic stand against the Nazis is viewed as vital in defeating barbarism, so too will history judge Israel’s stand against Hamas and Iran’s axis of terror. Israel will win this war and secure our shared future.”
Israel’s Prime Minister is absolutely correct. The suspension of around 30 arms contracts by Keir Starmer’s government plays into the hands of Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran itself. These terror groups are only emboldened by this action.
This week, Israel was targeted by a long-range missile fired by the Houthis in Yemen – the first to explode over Israeli territory – a significant development in the Houthi’s capability to strike Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continues its daily rocket fire into Israel. Whilst all eyes have been on the largest cyber attack in human history – the detonation of electronic devices belonging to Hezbollah members – we must not forget that since 8th October, Hezbollah has fired more than 7,500 rockets at Israel. Between 80,000 to 100,000 Israeli citizens in the north have been displaced and waiting to return.
Meanwhile, the UK’s previous government, under Rishi Sunak, had reportedly agreed to challenge the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in exchange for the right to monitor the conditions of Hamas terrorists in Israeli prisons.
Upon taking office, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz urged Starmer to uphold the previous government’s position. However, his administration has indicated it will not contest the ICC’s decision.
Netanyahu commented on Starmer’s decision: “The Labour Government decided to drop its challenge to the preposterous ICC arrest warrants sought by the prosecutor against the prime minister and defense minister of Israel.
“If these arrest warrants are issued against the leaders of the only democracy in the Middle East, it will undermine the ability of all democracies to combat terrorism, including Britain,” he said.
