UK will stop arms to Israelis if Gaza attacks ruled to be illegal

BRITAIN would stop arms sales to Israel if it was found to be in breach of international law over its onslaught on Gaza, Deputy Premier Oliver Dowden has suggested.

- Martyn Brown

He said the UK would not supply weapons if it could not legally do so.

It comes amid mounting pressure on ministers to reveal what legal advice they have received on continuing arms exports.

Mr Dowden said the Israelis had made "big mistakes" during the war, but would not be drawn into revealing advice to ministers.

Yesterday's remarks reflect a shift in tone from the Government - and many others around the world amid the political fallout following the killings of seven aid workers, three of them British, by the Israel Defense Forces.

Rishi Sunak has demanded an end to the brutal war, saying Britain was "shocked by the bloodshed".

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has warned that UK support is "not unconditional", amid continuing concerns.

Conservative former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said Britain must suspend arms sales to Israel unless it demonstrates an urgent change in the behaviour of the IDF.

He told the Daily Express: "If Israel is found to be in breach of international law, our own law would require UK Government to cease giving UK companies licences to sell arms to Israel."

The changing rhetoric will pile more pressure on Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has already been told to stop attacks in a UN resolution backed by 153 world leaders.