MPs and peers sign letter urging UK government to ban arms sales to Israel

A letter signed by more than 130 parliamentarians to the foreign secretary, David Cameron, highlights action taken by other countries, most recently Canada, which last week announced it would halt all arms exports to Israel.

“Today,” the letter says, “the scale of violence committed by the Israeli military is vastly more deadly, but the UK government has failed to act”.

Some of the foreign secretary’s criticisms have by implication suggested Israel as the occupying power is not complying with its duty under international law to supply food and water to Palestinian civilians.

Sultana said: “With the Israeli government now seemingly disregarding the UN security council’s ceasefire resolution, it is again violating international law and making the case for an end to arms sales impossible to ignore.

“The UK government must finally uphold the rights of the Palestinian people, heed this call from 130 cross-party parliamentarians, and immediately end arms sales to Israel.”

The legal challenge alleges that the suspension decision was made illogically and without due consideration of evidence, of international obligations, or of Foreign Office decision-making frameworks.