ISRAEL “abides by the rule of law”, a Cabinet minister has insisted despite refusing to publish legal advice the UK Government has received on the matter.
Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, insisted advice from the Tory government's lawyers on the situation would remain confidential but stressed the UK’s support for Israel was not “unconditional”.
The Government has come under increased pressure to suspend arms sales to Israel and to publish its legal advice following an attack which killed aid workers including three Britons.
The UK’s arms exports regime would prevent the supply of weapons to Israel if there is a “clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law”.
READ MORE: Steph Paton: Westminster’s loss of competence should worry us all
The Israeli military has withdrawn its forces from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis but could still mount an offensive in Rafah – despite the UK and US leading international pleas for restraint due to the number of displaced people taking refuge there.
After six months of conflict following the October 7 massacre by Hamas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled to Rafah and any large-scale assault would be likely to lead to a high death toll.
But the Government has refused to bow to pressure from opposition parties and some Conservatives to publish its legal advice on Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
Work and Pensions Secretary Stride defended arms exports to Israel, despite the International Court of Justice saying there is a "plausible" case that it is committing genocide in Gaza.
He said the legal advice would not be published due to “long-standing convention”.
#KayBurley: Is this government comfortable arming a country that is responsible for the death of British aid worker?
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) April 8, 2024
Mel Stride: We have a duty to support Israel...
KB: The International Court of Justice says there's a case for plausible genocide... still comfortable? pic.twitter.com/oslGilMfhL
He told Sky News: “Israel is a very important democratic country that abides by the rule of law, that we should be supporting, particularly in their hour of need and what has happened. However, that is not an unconditional support.
“We expect Israel not to do the kinds of things that happened with the aid workers and we have made it very clear that we are appalled by what happened there.
“We do expect, and the Americans as well and others, that aid will be going into Gaza.”
The situation in Gaza has seen Foreign Secretary David Cameron taking a more strident approach to criticism of Israel than some of his colleagues.
Stride echoed Cameron’s position that support for Israel is not unconditional.
But Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden on Sunday suggested Israel was being held to an “incredibly high standard” compared with other nations.
Dowden insisted the UK has not given the Israel Defence Forces “carte blanche” and has held robust conversations with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government following the killings of British aid workers John Chapman, 57, James “Jim” Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47 on April 1.
On whether the UK should continue to supply arms, Dowden told Sky News: “The manner in which some people are seizing on this issue and trying to hold Israel to incredibly high standards …
"Of course it is right that we hold Israel to high standards, but I just think there is a bit of relish from some people about the way in which they are pushing this case against Israel.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel