The UK’s decision to place a partial arms embargo on Israel was “shameful”, a close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Sky News, as he insisted his country is not violating international humanitarian law in Gaza.
Ron Dermer, Israeli minister of strategic affairs, condemned the UK’s suspension of some arms licences to Israel earlier this week, arguing it came just days after six more Israeli hostages were “executed” by Hamas.
Addressing the Commons on Monday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a review of export licences for UK arms found there was a “clear risk” British weapons might be used to commit “a serious violation of international humanitarian law”.
Mr Dermer said the decision to halt around 30 of 350 licences was “shameful” as Israel is “on the frontlines fighting against Iran and its axis that are the enemies of civilisation”.
The minister also denied Israel is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza, where, according to the enclave’s health ministry, more than 40,800 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out nearly 11 months ago.
The war was sparked after Hamas, the militant group ruling the besieged enclave of Gaza, carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel which saw 1,200 people killed on 7 October.
More than 250 people were taken hostage.
Speaking to Sky News’ Yalda Hakim, Mr Dermer sought to condemn the partial arms embargo saying: “You’d ask yourself how the British people would feel if Churchill was leading Britain in its fight against the Nazis and Britain was standing largely alone, if all of a sudden there would be arms embargoes from its great friend and ally.”
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Protests brought Tel Aviv to a halt
It comes as Mr Netanyahu’s government faces mounting pressure both at home and internationally to get a ceasefire and hostage release deal done.
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Israel over the weekend to express anger at six more hostages being killed in captivity in Gaza.
Despite the pressure, Mr Dermer said: “We will not fold,” as he called for Israel to stand united.
“We are going to do everything we can to bring the hostages home but in that process we are not going to endanger the security of 10 million Israelis and enable October 7 to happen again and again and again just like Hamas wants.”
Mr Dermer said while Israel was ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire during a temporary one, Hamas has not been “prepared to do any deal”.
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Mr Dermer repeated claims by Mr Netanyahu on Monday of the importance for Israel to retain control of the Philadelphi corridor, which runs along the border between Gaza and Egypt.
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The minister claimed the corridor has been a “supply chain for Hamas’ armaments” and the attack on 7 October, which became the bloodiest day in Israeli history, “couldn’t have happened” if it had been closed.
He also claimed giving up control of the corridor would put Israel at risk of repeated attacks like 7 October.
The corridor has been a major sticking point in efforts to secure a deal to halt the fighting in Gaza and return Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
But Mr Dermer said the corridor wasn’t the only sticking point in negotiations. He didn’t elaborate on what other hold-ups are hindering a permanent ceasefire deal.