British Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed concerns on Sunday about the potential consequences of halting British arms sales to Israel amid escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip.
This discussion arose as Israel signaled intentions for a possible ground assault on Rafah, despite warnings from U.S. President Joe Biden that such actions might lead to restrictions on certain weapon supplies from the U.S.
Cameron highlighted that Britain’s role in arming Israel differs significantly from that of the U.S., with less than 1% of Israel’s military arsenal sourced from the UK, regulated under stringent licensing protocols.
He stressed the importance of adhering to this established process rather than making abrupt policy changes which could inadvertently bolster Hamas.
“The last time I was urged to do that (…), just a few days later there was a brutal attack by Iran on Israel, including 140 cruise missiles,” Cameron noted, suggesting that reactive policy shifts could have unintended security repercussions.
Amidst these international dynamics, Cameron proposed that a more constructive approach might involve Hamas agreeing to a hostage negotiation deal.
He emphasized the potential risks of modifying the UK’s arms export stance hastily: “Just to simply announce today we’re going to change our whole approach to arms exports rather than go through our careful process, it would strengthen Hamas, it would make a hostage deal less likely, I don’t think it would be the right approach,” he said.
This statement comes in the context of a recent surge in violence, where a Hamas-initiated attack on southern Israel on October 7 resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages, as per Israeli reports.
Concurrently, the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza have resulted in nearly 35,000 Palestinian casualties according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry.
Cameron’s comments reflect a broader debate on the geopolitical implications of arms trading and conflict escalation in regions like Gaza, underscoring the complex interplay between international diplomacy, military strategy, and humanitarian concerns.