Green MP Lucas calls on Sunak to find a ‘moral backbone to ban arms exports to Israel’
Rishi Sunak responds to question from Caroline Lucas at PMQs saying 'she did not acknowledge at all is that Israel suffered an appalling terrorist attack that killed hundreds of its citizens and it does have the right to defend itself'
The Prime Minister has faced a call in the House of Commons from the Green MP Caroline Lucas to find “the moral backbone to ban arms exports to Israel”.
The Brighton Pavilion MP, a long-time Israel critic and former Greens leader, said: “All the signs are that (Benjamin) Netanyahu is about to defy the international community, an attack on the 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah is imminent.
“If that attack begins, will that be the moment when the Prime Minister finally finds the moral backbone to ban arms exports to Israel, and if not, how much more suffering has to happen before he acts to prevent further UK complicity in crimes against humanity?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “What she did not acknowledge at all is that Israel suffered an appalling terrorist attack that killed hundreds of its citizens and it does have the right to defend itself.
“Of course as I have been crystal clear, we want to see humanitarian law respected and adhered to by all parties, too many civilians have been killed, and we do want to see Israel take greater care to avoid harming civilians.
“I have made these points repeatedly to Prime Minister Netanyahu, specifically about the impact of any military incursion into Rafah, and we continue to say to the Israelis at all levels that we want to see more aid going in, and bring about a hostage deal so we can move towards a sustainable ceasefire.”
The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn demanded a Commons vote in the event UK troops are sent into Gaza.
Flynn told the Commons: “Let’s all be in no doubt aid is required in Gaza, and it is required because when people are not being bombed they are starving to death.
“The solution to that is a ceasefire, and the opening of safe ground-air routes, not the involvement on the ground of UK military personnel.
“These are dramatic and potentially dangerous developments, so will the Prime Minister confirm to the House today that before he makes a decision, all Members will be afforded a vote?”
Sunak replied: “I am not going to apologise for our armed forces playing a leading role in supporting international efforts to get more aid in, and indeed we are sending Royal Navy support ship RFA Cardigan Bay to the region to support that effort.
“But when he talks about this conflict, the fastest way to end this conflict is to ensure that we have a hostage deal that gets hostages out, aid in, and for their to be a sustainable pause in the fighting, and it seems clear that there now is a workable offer on the table, so I would hope he joins with me in encouraging all parties, including Hamas, to accept that deal so we can move towards a sustainable solution.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
