Banning British arms sales to Israel in the event of an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah would not be “a wise path” as it could strengthen Hamas, Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Sunday.
“We have seen no such plan ... So we don’t support an offensive in that way,” he stated while also urging Hamas to accept a hostage deal offered by Israel to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
When asked if the United Kingdom would follow the U.S. move of halting arms exports to Israel in response to a potential Rafah invasion, Mr. Cameron said the two countries are “in a totally different situation” when it comes to supplying weapons to Israel.
Mr. Cameron said the United States is “a massive bulk state supplier” of weapons to Israel, as compared to the United Kingdom, which provides “less than one percent of Israel’s weapons.”
“And [the UK] is not a state supplier. We have a licensing system and those licenses can be closed if it’s judged there’s a serious risk of a serious international human rights violation,” he added.
Mr. Cameron recounted that the last time he was pressed to declare an arms embargo on Israel, “a massive Iranian attack” was launched against Israel just a few days later.
“So, I don’t think it would have been a wise path. If I announced that today, it might help me get through this television interview, but actually it would strengthen Hamas. It would weaken Israel,” Mr. Cameron said.
“I think it probably makes a hostage deal less likely. So, I don’t think some sort of political declaration is the right answer. We should stick with our rigorous process of making sure we act within the law,” he added.
His comment comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are seeking shelter.
“I made it clear,” President Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in Racine, Wisconsin, on May 8. “If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons.”
During the interview, President Biden also reaffirmed his ironclad commitment “to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel would fight Hamas alone if necessary without U.S. backing.
Hamas terrorists killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted over 250 hostages during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
This triggered an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run health department, has now resulted in over 35,000 deaths. This number includes both combatants and civilians.
More than 130 hostages are still held in Gaza after a seven-day ceasefire in November 2023.
