UK MPs blast Israel, warn that Britain could face ICJ case over weapons supplies

UK MPs have slammed Israel over its siege of Gaza, with one warning that the UK government's arms sales to Israel could result in it being taken to an international court.

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday independent MP Shockat Adam warned that the government's arms exports to Israel made it complicit in Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

"Will he [Kier Starmer] risk make Britain complicit in war crimes and be the Prime Minister to see Britain answer at The Hague for its role in this atrocity?" he asked.

A joint report released by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Progressive International, and Workers for a Free Palestine on Wednesday revealed that UK firms sent thousands of pieces of military equipment to Israel, including "bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and similar munitions of war".

This is despite the suspension of 29 arms export licences to Israel by the UK government, because of the possibility that they could be used to commit war crimes in Gaza.

Israel's war on Gaza has widely been described as a genocide, and it is facing a case at the International Court of Justice regarding this, while Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant have been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Adam also called on the government to "acknowledge the ongoing ethnic cleansing and end all forms of British military cooperation with Israel."

Starmer responded saying that most of what Adam said is "simply not right", but that he was concerned about Israel's siege of Gaza and the cutting off of aid into the enclave.

Adam's question came alongside a statement issued jointly with four other MPs who make up the pro-Gaza "Independent Alliance" in parliament, which called on the government to "end all arms sales to Israel," adding that "anything less is complicity in crimes against humanity".

"No amount of 'deep concern' can make up for the military, economic and political support our government continues to provide. No words can negate to sale the deadly F-35 components. And no statements 'urging' Israel to stop can match the impunity it has been granted to carry on," the statement added.

Several MPs from other parties have also strongly condemned Israel, including some who have a long history of support for the state.

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard said in parliament on Tuesday: "For many years, in nearly every situation, I have supported Israel without reservation. But today I want to say: I was wrong."

"I condemn what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. I withdraw my support due to Israel's current actions in Gaza," he added.

Pritchard's comments came as the government updated parliament on the situation in the Middle East through Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer.

Labour MP Ian Bryne said "we will be judged in history for the failure of the Palestinian people in this House," while Conservative MP Edward Leigh asked the government asked "why can't we give the Palestinian people some hope, why can't we give them the same right to self-determination and recognise a Palestinian state now?"

Likewise, Liberal Democrat MP Lee Dillon said: "From the Father of the House to the 2024 intake, we are hearing across the chamber from Labour, Conservative, from Greens, Plaid (Cymru), Scottish National colleagues, a consensus of what the Government need to do on behalf of the British People.

"We need our government to recognise the Palestinian state."

Israel's 19-month long war on Gaza has killed over 52,000 people and destroyed most of the enclave. It has also imposed a total siege on the enclave, which has led to famine-like conditions and people dying of malnutrition. 

The Israeli government on Wednesday said that it plans to permanently occupy Gaza, with extreme-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich saying Gaza should be "entirely destroyed."