The government of the UK may halt the granting of licenses for exporting arms to Israel if Benjamin Netanyahu proceeds with a potentially destructive ground attack on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
The declining humanitarian conditions in Gaza have led to an increase in diplomatic pressure on the UK to join other nations in halting the export of arms to Israel.
According to government sources, there is currently no decision regarding a potential halt on arms export licenses. However, the UK has the capability to act promptly if legal advice suggests that Israel is violating international humanitarian laws.
The United Kingdom, along with other nations, is urging Israel to refrain from launching a ground attack in Rafah. In a letter to the foreign affairs select committee, which was released on Tuesday, the foreign secretary, David Cameron, expressed concern over the potential harm to innocent civilians and destruction of homes if such an offensive were to occur.
At the House of Commons, Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s foreign minister, emphasized the significance of the Rafah offensive as a red line for the UK government. He informed MPs on Wednesday that the UK is pleading with the Israeli government to refrain from initiating an attack that could result in disastrous outcomes.
During a meeting in Geneva, UK representatives were accused by Palestinian diplomats of violating the Arms Trade Treaty. This accusation was made due to their refusal to halt arms sales following the International Court of Justice’s ruling that Israel must prevent its forces from committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Nada Tarbrush, a representative from Palestine, issued a warning that a ground attack in Rafah would result in widespread killings at a larger magnitude than the previous atrocities. She also stated that when history is recorded, no one in the western world can deny their awareness of the devastation.
British officials stated during the meeting: “We have the ability to promptly and adaptably address shifting and unpredictable circumstances.”
One provision in the treaty requires countries to prevent the transfer of conventional weapons if they are aware that these weapons will be utilized for the purpose of genocide or crimes against humanity.
In Parliament, Mitchell spoke out against Hamas’ manipulative actions, stating: “We must acknowledge that reaching hostages or the Hamas leadership will come at a high cost of innocent lives for Israeli soldiers. While we understand Israel’s goal to eliminate the threat from Hamas and their control over Gaza, the UK and our allies urge them to consider the potential consequences of a military operation – is it truly beneficial for their long-term interests?”
Cameron made a point to emphasize the significance of Rafah in his letter to the UK foreign affairs select committee. He expressed “serious concern” about the possibility of a military attack. He acknowledged the severe humanitarian consequences that a complete ground offensive would have in such circumstances.
He stated: “We strongly urge Israel to only target military objectives and make every effort to prevent harm to civilians and destruction of homes.” Yet, regarding a potential attack in Rafah, he remarked: “It seems unlikely that this can be accomplished. Civilians cannot enter Egypt or return northward.”
Confidentially, British authorities think that Israel is determined to carry out an assault on Rafah.
The United Kingdom is expected to reveal the arms export licenses given to Israel during the last quarter of the previous year at a later date in the current year. In 2022, the UK authorized 114 standard export licenses for Israel with a total value of £42 million.
Cameron responded to Alicia Kearns, the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, stating that she was asking pertinent questions. However, he did not provide the committee with the information they had asked for regarding the number of export licence applications referred to ministers.
In the beginning of this month, the district court in The Hague ruled that the Dutch government must halt the shipment of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel within a week, citing concerns about possible breaches of international humanitarian laws. The court also referenced the ATT and EU policies.
Source: theguardian.com
