UK PM Keir Starmer has ruled out an outright ban on selling arms to Israel, declaring this “something he would never do”. In the House of Commons, Starmer said that Israel had a right to defend itself after a series of Iranian attacks.

“If the sale of weapons for defensive use by Israel were banned, that is a position I could not countenance a year after Oct 7,” Sir Keir said, referring to the Hamas attacks on Israel. He added, “The idea that we could say we support Israel’s right to defend herself, and at the same time deprive her of the means to do so, is so wholly inconsistent that it will never be my position.”

The UK government had earlier withdrawn 30 arms export licenses for use in Israel, fearing that such licenses could be used to commit breaches of international law, but the 32nd license is still active.

Labour leader Sir Keir received flak over his position, most of which came from suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana, who called on him to take the “morally and legally right” approach by banning all arms sales to Israel, this time with components for F-35 fighter jets.

In the meantime, French President Emmanuel Macron stepped up the criticism when it demanded a stop to weapons delivery to Israel upon its actions in Lebanon. To this, he added that there should be a political solution sought, and weapons deliveries must be stopped for utilisation in Gaza.

On the October 7 attacks anniversary, Sir Keir repeated his call for a political resolution to the crisis: “Make no mistake, the region can’t take another year of this. All sides need to step back from the brink and find the courage of restraint.”

US President Joe Biden also marked the anniversary by promising Israeli President Isaac Herzog that the United States will never give up until we bring all of the remaining hostages home safely.

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