130 MPs and peers call on government to ban arms sales to Israel

A letter signed by more than 130 MPs and peers is calling on the UK government to ban arms sales to Israel.

The letter, coordinated by the Labour MP Zarah Sultana, says “business as usual” for UK arms exports to Israel would be “totally unacceptable”.

It notes that UK-made arms are being used in Gaza, and highlights a recent UN investigation that found an F-16 fighter jet made with UK parts could have been responsible for the bombing of British doctors in Gaza.

The letter notes that two previous UK governments have suspended arms sales to Israel during conflicts in Gaza.

Sent to foreign secretary David Cameron, it also mentions action taken by countries including Canada which last week announced it would halt all arms exports to Israel.

“Today the scale of violence committed by the Israeli military is vastly more deadly, but the UK government has failed to act,” the letter says.

It has been signed by was signed by 107 MPs and 27 peers including the former Labour Middle East minister Peter Hain, the Scottish National party’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn and the former shadow minister Jess Phillips, along with the Conservative peer Nosheena Mobarik, and other more regular critics of Israel.

In the Commons this week foreign office minister Andrew Mitchell said the government would not be disclosing legal advice given to them on Israel’s continued war against Hamas in Gaza.