David Cameron says UK will ‘withhold weapons’ from Israel unless it lets aid into Gaza and sticks to international law

The UK will withhold weapons from Israel unless it agrees to allow aid into Gaza and complies with international law, Lord Cameron is saying.

The Foreign Secretary has reportedly told Israeli officials that he will halt arms sales if Hamas prisoners are not allowed visits from the Red Cross, in accordance with international law.

Israel claims it is exempt from the requirements on security grounds.

In a letter to Alicia Kearns MP, the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Lord Cameron expressed his ‘enormous frustration’ that UK aid destined for Gaza had been held up at the border for nearly three weeks.

It comes after the former prime minister warned Israel to ‘stop and think’ before launching an offensive on Rafah and called for a ‘sustainable, permanent ceasefire’.

A heated exchange took place between Shin Bet and Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured)

Last night, Downing Street insisted that its position had not changed and that it sill believed Israel could comply with its obligations under international law, the Telegraph reported.

A spokesperson for No 10 said that Britain continued to have ‘frank and candid’ dialogue with Israel as part of a ‘close working relationship’.

On the Israeli side, Ynews reported a fiery disagreement between Shin Bet and the Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister over Britain’s demands.

A senior official told the website that the Israel could do without weapons from Britain, saying that the British mandate ended in 1948.

Ben Gvir has insisted that Israel would not disclose information on prisoners until Hamas shared the location of Israeli hostages held in Gaza

Ben Gvir reiterated that Israel would not share information about prisoners for as long as Hamas refused to disclose where Israeli hostages were being held.

He added that the Hague Convention is subject to broad interpretation. 

However the country’s foreign ministry has reportedly argued in favour of divulging information on prisoners, citing growing international pressure and legal advice suggesting Britain’s claims are legitimate.