MPs and peers sign letter calling for ban on arms sales to Israel

Parliamentary pressure is building on the government to ban arms sales to Israel, amid signs that the country intends to ignore the UN security council resolution calling on all sides to commit to a ceasefire.

- Patrick Wintour

A letter to the foreign secretary, David Cameron, highlights action taken by other countries, including Canada, which last week announced it would halt all arms exports to Israel.

Ministers are already facing calls from the shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, to publish the legal advice on whether there is a risk Israel is breaching international humanitarian law, which would normally trigger a suspension of arms sales.

The letter, coordinated by the Labour MP Zarah Sultana, was signed by 107 MPs and 27 peers including the former Labour Middle East minister Peter Hain, the SNP's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, the former shadow minister Jess Phillips, the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the Conservative peer Nosheena Mobarik.