UK Foreign Secretary Warns That Halting Arms Exports to Israel Will Strengthen Hamas

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron answers questions during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department in Washington, on Dec. 7, 2023. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Banning British arms sales to Israel in the event of an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah would not be “a wise path” as it could strengthen Hamas, Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Sunday.

In an interview on Sky News’ “Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips,” Mr. Cameron said that he would not support an Israeli major offensive in Rafah unless there is a “clear plan” in place to protect civilians there.

“We have seen no such plan ... So we don’t support an offensive in that way,” he stated while also urging Hamas to accept a hostage deal offered by Israel to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

When asked if the United Kingdom would follow the U.S. move of halting arms exports to Israel in response to a potential Rafah invasion, Mr. Cameron said the two countries are “in a totally different situation” when it comes to supplying weapons to Israel.

Mr. Cameron said the United States is “a massive bulk state supplier” of weapons to Israel, as compared to the United Kingdom, which provides “less than one percent of Israel’s weapons.”

“And [the UK] is not a state supplier. We have a licensing system and those licenses can be closed if it’s judged there’s a serious risk of a serious international human rights violation,” he added.

Mr. Cameron recounted that the last time he was pressed to declare an arms embargo on Israel, “a massive Iranian attack” was launched against Israel just a few days later.

“So, I don’t think it would have been a wise path. If I announced that today, it might help me get through this television interview, but actually it would strengthen Hamas. It would weaken Israel,” Mr. Cameron said.

“I think it probably makes a hostage deal less likely. So, I don’t think some sort of political declaration is the right answer. We should stick with our rigorous process of making sure we act within the law,” he added.

His comment comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are seeking shelter.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced a pause in the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, and President Biden threatened to further cut U.S. support should Israel proceed with an invasion into the population centers of Rafah.

“I made it clear,” President Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in Racine, Wisconsin, on May 8. “If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons.”

During the interview, President Biden also reaffirmed his ironclad commitment “to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel would fight Hamas alone if necessary without U.S. backing.

President Joe Biden (L) and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) speak before a meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 18, 2023. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

“If we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. But we have much more than fingernails,” the Israeli leader said in a video posted on social media platform X on May 10.

Hamas terrorists killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted over 250 hostages during their attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

This triggered an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run health department, has now resulted in over 35,000 deaths. This number includes both combatants and civilians.

More than 130 hostages are still held in Gaza after a seven-day ceasefire in November 2023.

Joseph Lord contributed to this report.