Cameron demands ‘major changes’ to protect aid staff
...but Government won’t reveal legal advice
LORD Cameron will today demand “major changes” from Israel to protect aid workers in Gaza.
The Foreign Secretary will condemn the drone killings of seven World Central Kitchen workers as “completely unacceptable”.
It comes as the Government resists pressure to publish its legal advice on whether Israel is complying with international humanitarian law amid continuing demands to suspend arms exports to the country.
British military veterans John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33 and James Kirby, 47, were among those killed in a drone attack that has prompted global outrage.
Lord Cameron will say that the deaths of the humanitarian workers are “completely unacceptable” and that “major changes” need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground.
Meanwhile, Downing Street insisted the Government is “completely united” in its stance on Israel following the killings.
The UK’s arms exports regime would prevent the supply of weapons to Israel if there is a “clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law”, it was said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “We continue to stand by Israel’s right to defeat the threat from Hamas terrorists and defend their security. But the whole of the UK is shocked by the bloodshed, and appalled by the killing of brave British heroes who were bringing food to those in need.
“This terrible conflict must end. The hostages must be released. The aid, which we have been straining every sinew to deliver by land, air and sea, must be flooded in.”
Amid claims of a split within the Government, a No10 spokesman added: “The whole Government is focused on bringing this conflict to an end, getting hostages out and more aid in.” On whether the Government should publish its legal advice, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are obviously aware of the interest in this issue and we will always look to be transparent about our decisions on these matters, whilst respecting the long-standing convention that we don’t publish legal advice on these issues.”
More than 1,200 lawyers and academics have signed a letter insisting there is no legal requirement to impose an arms embargo.
It comes after calls from more than 600 lawyers, including former Supreme Court justices, to suspend arms sales.
Meanwhile, Mr Cameron is set for crunch talks with US officials in Washington as he pushes for politicians to provide more weapons to Ukraine.