'Do they want Hamas to win?': Boris Johnson slams Starmer for 'abandoning' Israel as UK halts some arms sales

3 September 2024, 10:28

By EJ Ward

Boris Johnson has hit out at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of "abandoning" Israel and questioning if the Labour Party wants "Hamas to win," following the UK government's decision to suspend certain arms exports to the country.

On Monday, the British government halted 30 out of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel after a review raised concerns that the equipment might be used in a manner that could violate international humanitarian law by targeting civilians in Gaza.

The suspension affects components for fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and other ground attack systems.

Johnson, who previously served as Prime Minister, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday morning, stating: "Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the 7th October massacre. Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a review conducted by the UK Government could not "arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law" in Gaza, but ministers have a legal duty to review export licences.

Factors key to the Government's decision include "insufficient" humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and reports of the mistreatment of detainees, a summary of the process undertaken by ministers revealed.

But the British Defence Secretary told LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast that the UK would not impose a full-scale arms embargo on Israel.

Read more: UK will not impose a full scale arms embargo on Israel, Defence Secretary tells LBC

Read more: Israel 'furious' after UK suspends arms export licences as it warns of 'problematic' message it sends to the world

Senior Israeli officials were among those who criticised the UK's decision, with the country's defence minister Yoav Gallant claiming he was "deeply disheartened" by what he described as "sanctions placed by the UK Government on export licenses to Israel's defence establishment".

Israel branded the move as sending a "very problematic message" to its adversaries, including Iran.

Yoav Gallant, Israel's defence minister, shared his dismay on X, saying: “Deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions … This comes at a time when we fight a war on seven different fronts — a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organization, unprovoked. At a time when we mourn six hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home.”

Israel Katz, the country’s foreign minister, echoed Gallant's concerns, stating that the UK's actions could potentially embolden Hamas and its supporters.

Speaking in the Commons, David Lammy said there was a "clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law" based on an assessment he had received, adding there was no choice but to halt some arms exports.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, in a written ministerial statement, said the suspension included "components for fighter aircraft (F-16s), parts for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), naval systems, and targeting equipment".

Summary papers published by the Government said the assessment which Mr Lammy relied upon for his decision found "Israel has not fulfilled its duty as Occupying Power to ensure - to the fullest extent of the means available to it - those supplies essential to the survival of the population of Gaza.

"It has concluded that the level of aid remains insufficient."

It also said there "have been credible claims of the mistreatment of detainees" at a "volume and consistency" which suggest "at least some instances of mistreatment contrary to IHL" (international humanitarian law).

The Government suggested however, that it had not been possible to come to a "determinative judgement" on "allegations regarding Israel's conduct of hostilities", partly because of the "opaque and contested information environment in Gaza".

Following the announcement by the UK, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions placed by the UK Government on export licenses to Israel's defence establishment.

"This comes at a time when we fight a war on seven different fronts - a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organization, unprovoked."

"At a time when we mourn six hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home," he said.

There was also criticism from closer to home, with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, writing on X that the decision "beggars belief" while "Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts forced upon it on October 7, and at the very moment when six hostages murdered in cold blood by cruel terrorists were being buried by their families".