Foreign Secretary David Lammy has rubbished reports the US is upset over the decision to cut arms sales to Israel.
Mr Lammy said he’d discussed the matter with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who “respects and understands” the Government’s position. On Monday the Government announced it would stop 30 of 350 licences of weapons to Israel.
It came after a review found there was a “clear risk” these could be used to commit a “serious violation of international humanitarian law.” The move was claimed to have sparked anger in the White House, but Mr Lammy insisted this was not the case.
Mr Lammy told LBC: “What the Americans have said is that they totally respect and understand our legal regime here. They have a different legal regime, and they will make their own determinations, but they respect and understand ours and that know that this was a quasi-legal process. They’ve known that for months, in fact.”
Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu lashed out at the decision, branding it a "shameful decision". Israeli officials say the move will "only embolden Hamas".
Defence Secretary John Healey said he'd spoken to Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, who found the decision "unwelcome". He said: "That's not surprising, but sometimes your closest friends are the ones that need to tell the hardest truths."
Addressing Parliament on Monday, Mr Lammy said: "We recognise, of course, Israel's need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried by the methods that Israel's employed, and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure particularly."
He clarified: "This is a forward looking evaluation, not a determination of innocence or guilt, and it does not prejudge any future determinations by the competent courts."
The decision has been met with anger. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the decision "beggars belief" at a time when "six hostages murdered in cold blood by cruel terrorists were being buried by their families". And Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, criticised the decision as sending a "terrible message" in Israel's "hour of need".
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson accused Mr Lammy and Keir Starmer of "abandoning Israel", asking: "Do they want Hamas to win?"