Would the government be comfortable giving arms to a country responsible for the death of a British aid worker?
As we reported last week, three British nationals were among the seven aid workers killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip (Click here for details).
When we asked Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride whether he would be comfortable with the Government arming countries responsible for the deaths of British aid workers, he replied: “We are extremely displeased and, in fact, truly appalled by what happened about a week ago.”
When asked about the issue of arms deliveries to Israel, he responded that after the October 7 attack by Hamas, we have an obligation to support Israel.
“Israel is an ally, and Israel has the right to defend itself and to stand against Hamas.”
But Mr Stride said if the government was comfortable giving arms to the country responsible for the death of a British aid worker, then “we are very displeased by what happened and we are very concerned about what happened.” “I’m appalled by that. Our prime minister has spoken to Israel.” Prime Minister on that.
“We are also very uncomfortable with the amount of aid coming into Israel, which is why we have worked hard to increase the amount of aid.”
He also echoed comments made by Foreign Secretary David Cameron over the weekend that support for Israel was “not unconditional”.
Sky’s Kay Varley asked again about the publication of legal advice on Israel’s compliance with international law, but Stride replied: “From what we have heard from the Foreign Secretary and the Business Secretary. […] There should be no changes to the current arrangements. ”
He said there were “many good reasons” why the government’s legal advice was not published, noting that this was also the case under the Labor government.
“What you’re looking for in terms of legal advice is very frank, sometimes brutal, very clear legal advice, and you don’t want to constrain that by discussing additional elements of that in public.” It is.” [sphere],” he added.
