Netanyahu Slams UK for Suspending Arms Exports to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the British government’s decision to halt certain arms exports to Israel, citing concerns that the weapons could be used in ways that violate international law. In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Netanyahu described the decision as “shameful” and asserted that it would not deter Israel from its mission to defeat Hamas. He emphasized, “With or without British arms, Israel will win this war.”

The British government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announced the suspension on Monday. While the decision has a limited impact on Israel’s military capabilities, it is seen as a way for the UK’s allies to pressure Israel to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has lasted nearly 11 months. The conflict has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to figures from the Health Ministry in Gaza, a territory controlled by Hamas. These figures do not differentiate between militants and civilians.

Although the UK is a minor arms supplier to Israel compared to countries like the U.S. and Germany, it remains one of Israel’s closest allies, giving this decision symbolic weight. Israel maintains that it complies with international law in its military actions against Hamas, which initiated the conflict with an attack on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.