Anger at Starmer over move to restrict arm sales to Israel

Netanyahu brands decision shameful’ as PM feels US heat

- DAVID MADDOX ANDREW FEINBERG

Sir Keir Starmer has found himself at the centre of an international storm over his government’s decision to restrict arms sales to Israel just as mourners were burying six hostages killed in Gaza.

The move to halt 30 of the 350 arms export licences was condemned by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “shameful”, while the White House has made it clear it will not be following Britain’s lead. Joe Biden’s national security communications adviser, John Kirby, said: “Every nation can speak for themselves, on how and to what degree that they support Israel. We’re going to continue to do what we have to do to support Israel’s defensive capabilities.”

The issue has also blown up in the Tory leadership contest, with candidates lining up to attack foreign secretary David Lammy’s announcement. But while critics on the right attacked the decision, Labour MPs and charities questioned whether the government has gone far enough, particularly after defence secretary John Healey conceded it would have little effect.

Oliver Feeley-Sprague, military, security and police programme director at Amnesty International UK, said: “Suspending a handful of licences while continuing to allow UK components to be fitted into F-35 fighter jets used by the Israeli military in Gaza makes a nonsense of ministers’ claims to be concerned about Israel’s well-documented breaches of international humanitarian law.