“We complied with international law”

The United Kingdom dismisses the idea that the United States protested against this decision

September 25 () –

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday rejected the idea that suspending certain arms deliveries to Israel had undermined its ability to continue attacking the Gaza Strip, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had complained. “We had to comply with international law,” he explained.

“He’s not right about that. We had to comply with international law,” Starmer said in a statement to radio station LBC, insisting that he has always expressed his support for “Israel’s right to self-defence.”

The British Prime Minister explained that despite the suspension of these licenses, some 30 of the 350 that have been agreed, contacts with the Israeli government continue. “It is an important ally,” he said.

Starmer has warned that the situation is “getting too close to the edge” and has called on “all parties” to take a step back.

For his part, the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has denied in statements to the same radio station that the United States has conveyed to the British Government any alleged discomfort over this decision.

“What the Americans have said, and I have said this publicly, is that they fully respect and understand our legal regime,” Lammy concluded, adding that the decision was “regrettable” since Israel is an ally. “It was the right thing to do,” he said.

“We have always been clear that Israel has the right to defend itself within the framework of international humanitarian law and unfortunately we have had to take this decision,” to “suspend those licenses that we know could be used in Gaza, and which represent 10 percent,” he added.