Following the appalling deaths of three UK aid workers in an
Israeli strike on Gaza, Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary , has called on the government
to finally publish its advice regarding UK arms exports to
Israel.
Lammy has accused Foreign Secretary of 'going silent' after
failing to get a response to his request to publish the legal
advice surrounding UK arms sales to Israel on 22 March.
On 8 March, said he would get new advice
on Israel's compliance with international law “in the coming
days,” but nothing has materialised.
On Sunday, it was reported that the Conservative Foreign Affairs
Select Committee Chair, Alicia Kearns, had said the government
has received advice from its own lawyers stating that Israel has
breached international humanitarian law in Gaza but has failed to
make it public.
David Lammy MP, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, said:
"Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the three
heroic Brits who put their lives on the line to get Palestinian
civilians the aid they desperately need. But Israel must face
serious consequences, not just tough rhetoric, for their
appalling deaths.
"It's totally wrong that the Foreign Secretary has gone silent on
the question of whether or not Israel is complying with
international humanitarian law, after saying he'd get new advice
nearly a month ago. There are very serious accusations that
Israel has breached international law, which must be taken into
account.
"The law is clear. British arms licences cannot be granted if
there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or
facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
"Labour's message to the government is equally clear. Publish the
legal advice now. If it says there is a clear risk that UK arms
might be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian
law, it's time to suspend the sale of those arms. If David
Cameron has received this advice, he must act on it.”
