U.K. Labour Government Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel After Hamas Executes Hostages

The U.K.'s new Labour government has imposed a partial arms embargo upon Israel. 

Foreign Minister David Lammy made the announcement that yesterday in the British House of Commons on the basis that "there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law."

Might be used?

Of course, Lammy has no evidence in support of the claim that Israel has violated international law. Merely that such a possibility "might" occur.

Lammy announced the new policy as the families of the six hostages executed by Hamas were burying their loved ones. Something which did not escape the notice of U.K. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis:

It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licenses, at a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven front forced upon it on the 7th October, and at the very moment when six hostages murdered in cold blood by cruel terrorists were being buried by their families. As Israel faces down the threat of Iran and its proxies, not just to its own people, but to all of us in the democratic west; this announcement feeds the falsehood that Israel is in breach of International Humanitarian Law, when in fact it is going to extraordinary lengths to uphold it. Sadly, this announcement will serve to encourage our shared enemies. It will not help to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages, nor contribute to the peaceful future we wish and pray for, for all people in the region and beyond. 

The U.K. government's decision not only emboldens Hamas abroad but legitimizes anti-Semitism in the U.K. but undoes the work Keir Starmer had undertaken to reassure Jews that Labour was free of the scourge of anti-Semitism. Lammy's decision, done with Starmer's approval, serves no purpose other than to appease the Corbynites in the Labour Party and those who shout anti-Semitic slogans in front of Westminster Palace. 

This decision might very well be reversed in the coming days or weeks, but the damage will have been done and dishonor the U.K. Labour government has brought upon itself will remain.