Israel suspends UK spokesman

ISRAEL has suspended a leading spokesman over an angry outburst aimed at Lord Cameron after he complained about delays in aid deliveries to Gaza, it has been claimed.

London-born Eylon Levy, who has become a key English language spokesman for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government since the Hamas attack last October, was suspended after a complaint from the Foreign Office, Israel’s Channel 12 reported.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, this week joined criticism of Israel’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging the country to do more to get aid into the besieged enclave.

Mr Levy hit back, telling him: “I hope you are also aware there are NO limits on the entry of food, water, medicine, or shelter equipment into Gaza, and in fact the crossings have EXCESS capacity.”

Yesterday, Mr Netanyahu’s office refused to comment on reports of Mr Levy’s dismissal. The spokesman last commented on the war on Tuesday.

Aid groups have repeatedly accused Israel in recent months of obstructing deliveries of aid, including refusing entry to truckloads of cargo, causing unreasonable delays, and creating bottlenecks by refusing to open additional crossings in the north of Gaza, which is worst affected by the conflict.

Israel’s closest Western allies, including Britain, have voiced increasing frustration over its refusal to act on the crisis in Gaza, amid reports of children dying of starvation and as the UN warned of an “imminent famine”.

Israeli media first started speculating about Mr Levy’s position when Channel 12 reported in January that Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife, was looking to get the spokesman fired for his past criticism of her husband, and for joining the protests against the controversial judicial reform he was advocating.

The prime minister’s office has denied Mrs Netanyahu’s involvement.