In the British government report, Israel is guilty of violating international law

London: In a confidential report to the British government, the British public prosecutors accused Israel of violating international law.

Alicia Cairns, head of the British MP’s foreign affairs committee, said she believes the government has concluded that Israel is not complying with international humanitarian law, but is covering it up.

According to British and Israeli media, a leaked recording revealed that the British government had received a report from its own lawyers that said Israel had violated international humanitarian law in Gaza. However, the report was suppressed by the British government and was not made public.

Alicia Cairns said: “I believe the government has completed its latest review of the Gaza war, which has concluded that Israel is not complying with international humanitarian law that it is legally bound to do. . At this point, it is very important for the British government to demonstrate transparency in order to uphold international law.

Revealing this would put British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Prime Minister Rishi Sonic under intense pressure, as any such legal advice from government lawyers in the UK would mean Britain would not only immediately freeze all arms sales to Israel. It will have to stop but also the exchange of intelligence information will have to be stopped.

Legal experts say that despite the report, if the UK does not stop selling arms to Israel, the UK itself will be found guilty of violating international law, as it is aiding and abetting war crimes by selling arms to Israel. will be blamed.

Alicia Cairns, answering questions at an event in London, said: “The Foreign Office has received official legal advice that Israel has breached international humanitarian law but our government has covered it up and not announced it. Exports were also not stopped.

Cairns said that she also strongly believes in Israel’s right to self-defense, but the right to self-defense has a limit, it is not unlimited. He said that Israel’s actions put not only its own but also Britain’s long-term security at risk.

It should be noted that UK arms exports to Israel in 2022 were €42m, which Defense Secretary Grant Shapps described as “relatively small”.

At a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in January, Cairns asked Foreign Secretary Cameron directly whether “you’ve ever seen a legal draft from a Foreign Office lawyer that says Israel is in breach of international humanitarian law.” Violating.

In response, David Cameron said, “I can’t recall every paper that was put before me, I don’t want to answer that question, but if you’re asking me if I’m concerned that Israel has violated international law.” So yes, of course I am concerned about that. That is why I consult Foreign Office lawyers when advising on arms exports.