Johnson: Britain is abandoning Israel in the midst of conflict with Hamas
The British government, which has decided to suspend licences for arms exports to Israel, is abandoning the Jewish state in the midst of the conflict with the Palestinian Hamas movement, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
On Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the suspension of some 30 licences to export weapons to Israel, explaining that they could be used in violation of international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip. The list includes components for military aircraft, helicopters and UAVs, among others. The export ban went into effect the same day.
‘Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of the 7 October massacre. Why are Lammy and (British Prime Minister Keir – ed.) Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?’ – Johnson wrote on social media X.
Israel suffered an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on 7 October 2023. Palestinian Hamas fighters then infiltrated border areas, opening fire on military and civilians, taking more than 200 hostages. According to the authorities, about 1.2 thousand people were killed.
The Israel Defence Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip, including strikes on civilian targets. Israel announced a complete blockade of the enclave: supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food and medicine were stopped. According to the Ministry of Health of Gaza, more than 40 thousand people were killed, more than 94 thousand suffered. The Gaza Strip has been effectively divided into southern and northern parts, and Israel is conducting a ground operation in Rafah, which is considered the last stronghold of Hamas.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called on the sides to stop the hostilities. According to Moscow’s position, a settlement is possible only on the basis of the formula approved by the UN Security Council with the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
