Hamas Executes 6 Hostages, Labour Party Bans Arms Sales to Israel

Co. Richard Kemp: 'Resuming UNRWA funding while undermining Israel is morally bankrupt'

Former commander of British forces in Afghanistan tells Arutz Sheva the British govt. did not consider the optics of announcing the suspension of some arms sales to Israel right after Hamas executed 6 Israeli hostages.

Colonel Richard Kemp, the former commander of the British military forces in Afghanistan, spoke to Israel National News - Arutz Sheva on Tuesday about the British government's announcement that it is suspending a portion of British arms sales to Israel.

Col. Kemp believes that the British government did not consider the optics of announcing a reduction of arms sales to Israel right after the world learned of the execution of six Israeli hostages by the Hamas terrorist organization. "I doubt the British government even considered the execution of the hostages in their timing. This move was predictable since the Labour Party took office. They are reacting to internal party pressure to take anti-Israel measures. Don’t forget this is Jeremy Corbyn’s party with a new coat of paint."

He explained, "The Foreign Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister of course, is essentially saying he believes Israel is committing war crimes. That is not true. It is the opposite of the truth. They are using all available means to destroy Hamas while minimizing civilian casualties."

"Meanwhile everything Hamas does is a war crime. The British government knows this. This move aligns them with Hamas and against Israel. It plays right into the hands of Hamas who are desperate for Israel to end the war which is their only chance to survive and rebuild their terrorist base. They hope to achieve this through the kind of international pressure by their supporters which resulted in the arms embargo," he said.

He noted that the British government's move, which effects 30 out of 150 licences for arms exports to Israel, "will have relatively little if any practical effect on the IDF who will continue to fight this war. But it gives ammunition to the pro-Hamas camp in Britain and elsewhere and will incite even greater antisemitic attacks for which the government will be culpable."

He cautioned that "this step harms Britain’s relationship with Israel in which the UK is the net beneficiary in the defense equipment and intelligence realms."

When asked how the British government can justify reducing arms sales to Israel on the basis of concern of possible war crimes after it has resumed funding for UNRWA, which has been proven to have employed terrorists who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity and to be deeply connected to Hamas, Col. Kemp responded, "Resuming funding for UNRWA with its terrorist facilitation while seeking to undermine Israel shows just how bankrupt and immoral this government’s Middle East policy has become."

He said that "if sufficient pressure is applied to the government it is possible that they might review the situation and reverse course which is exactly what it should do. However, even if they do this a lot of damage will already have been done."

When asked how Israel could respond to the British government's move, Col. Kemp stated that "Israel could review its relationship with Britain and that could include a reciprocal arms suspension or restrictions on intelligence."

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395626

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy  (Pictured outside No 10 Downing Street yesterday) announced that he had suspended around 30 arms licences for sales to Israel

Shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell suggested the Labour Government was trying to ‘satisfy its backbenchers’.

A defence trade source called Mr Lammy’s decision ‘effectively a partial arms embargo which is the same as the UK has with China’.

Boris Johnson joined Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish groups in condemning David Lammy’s ‘shameful’ decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel.

The Israeli prime minister claiming Britain’s ‘misguided’ decision would only ‘embolden Hamas’.

'Hamas is still holding over 100 hostages, including 5 British citizens. Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain's misguided decision will only embolden Hamas.'

Boris Johnson asked ‘Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?’

Hamas gunmen went across the Israeli border and killed 1,200 on October 7, among the victims were children, the elderly as well as 364 attendees at Nova music festival (pictured: items left scattered around the Supernova Music Festival site)

Britain's Chief Rabbi has slammed David Lammy's plan to limit arms sales to Israel, saying it 'beggars belief'. 

It comes 'At a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts forced upon it on the 7th October, and at the very moment when six hostages murdered in cold blood by cruel terrorists were being buried by their families.'

SmartAss Mr Lammy told the Commons that the change would affect 'important components which go into military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as items which facilitate ground targeting'

Israel's minister of defence, Yoav Gallant said he was 'deeply disheartened' by the UK Government's decision.

'This comes at a time when we fight a war on seven different fronts – a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organisation, unprovoked,' he said.

Dailymail Comment: Mr Lammy's decision sends a dreadful message that Britain will casually betray our allies. Even worse, it seems to be driven not by our strategic interests, but by cynical political calculations.  

Tory Robert Jenrick described the move as ‘shameful gesture politics to appease the hard Left’.

‘Britain should be standing with our ally Israel as it defends itself, and the world, against Iran’s war of state-sponsored terrorism.’

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said: ‘Only days after Hamas brutally murdered Israeli hostages, this Labour government has chosen to abandon Israel. The UK benefits from Israeli co-operation so this is a retrograde step for our vital security partnership. Labour should be ashamed.’

Since assuming power, Labour has already dropped the UK’s objections to an ICC arrest warrant being issued for Mr Netanyahu.

It has also restored funding to the Hamas controlled UNRWA relief agency, despite Israel revealing evidence that members of UNRWA were Hamas operatives involved in the October 7 terror attack.