Oliver Dowden hints UK won't halt arms sales to Israel following killing of three British veterans by IDF strike in Gaza - as Deputy PM hits out at those who 'relish' in 'pushing this case' in sign of Cabinet tensions

Deputy PM Oliver Dowden today hinted that Britain would not halt arms sales to Israel as he hit out at those who 'relish' in 'pushing this case'.

There have been growing calls for the UK to stop supplying weapons to Israel following the killing of three Britons in an IDF air strike on an aid convoy in Gaza.

The deaths of British veterans James 'Jim' Henderson, John Chapman, and James Kirby have piled pressure on the Government to take a tougher line on Israel.

But Mr Dowden this morning told Sky News there had been no change in Government advice on arms exports - although he acknowledged this could change if Israel was found in breach of international law.

The Deputy PM also hit out at those who 'relish' in 'pushing this case against Israel' and expressed concern about 'the manner in which some people are seizing on this issue'.

Mr Dowden's remarks are the latest sign of a Cabinet split over Britain's backing for Israel, amid reports of tensions among top ministers over a possible arms sales ban.

It came as Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned Britain's support for Israel is not unconditional and warned the killing of aid workers 'must never happen again'.

Mr Henderson, Mr Chapman, and Mr Kirby were among seven aid workers who died when a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy was hit by an Israeli air strike.

The Israel Defence Forces  (IDF) dismissed two officers over Monday's drone strike, which it described as a 'grave mistake stemming from a serious failure'.

Mishandling of critical information and violations of the army's rules of engagement were cited as the reasons for the dismissal. 

Three other senior officers were also reprimanded for their roles in the strike, which has brought widespread international condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza.

Appearing on Sky News this morning, Mr Dowden denied that Britain was giving Israel 'carte blanche' in its response to the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October.

He said UK ministers were having 'robust conversations' with Israel, but suggested Israel was being held to 'standards that we wouldn't remotely expect of the terrorists that they are facing'.

Asked about the possibility of a ban on British arms sales to Israel, the Deputy PM replied: 'We have one of the toughest systems of arms export controls in the world.

'It is well respected around the world. The decision, in relation to arms exports, is one for the Business Secretary [Kemi Badenoch].

'The Business Secretary, in turn, takes advice from the Foreign Secretary, who receives advice across a range of different issues.

'Now, the Foreign Secretary has not changed his advice to the Business Secretary.

'Of course it's the case that we continue to engage with Israel across a range of issues such as de-conflicting.

'I would note, though, that we are holding Israel to standards that we wouldn't remotely expect of the terrorists that they are facing.'

Pressed on when Lord Cameron last received legal advice on Britain's supply of weapons to Israel, Mr Dowden said: 'The process is an ongoing one because this is an ongoing conflict.'

But the Deputy PM repeated that the Foreign Secretary's advice to Mrs Badenoch had not changed 'in respect of arms exports'. 

Mr Dowden was also asked about ex-PM Boris Johnson's claim that it would be 'insane' for the UK to end military support for Israel, which he said would be 'willing the military defeat of Israel and the victory of Hamas'.

'We have a process to go through in respect of arms exports. I'm not going to start trying to pre-empt the outcomes,' the Deputy PM said.

'It does worry me, and I want to use my words carefully, the manner in which some people are seizing on this issue and trying to hold Israel to incredibly high standards.

'Of course it's right we hold Israel to high standards but I just think there's a bit of relish from some people about the way in which they are pushing this case against Israel.'

Asked whether there was 'coded anti-Semitism' in calls for Britain to halt its support for Israel, Mr Dowden added: 'I wouldn't go so far as that but I think it goes right back to the beginning point.

'I think there's many people in the Jewish community, in Israel, who have been expecting this kind of shift in approach to Israel.

'We should think back to how Israel was on the day of that attack, the trauma it's still suffering.

'Of course Israel has made mistakes and made big mistakes, and we are holding them to account for that. But we are holding them to a very high standard.'

Speaking later to the BBC, Mr Dowden was asked if the Government would stop arms sales if it received legal advice that Israel was in breach of international humanitarian law. 

He replied: 'We will of course act in accordance with our obligations under law in respect of arms sales and the way that that works is there is legal advice, the Foreign Secretary reaches a judgement and he gives that advice to the Business Secretary.

'If it is the case that we can't lawfully in accordance with the act do so, of course we won't supply those arms, but that is precisely the position for example even in respect of the US or any other country around the world.

'We rightly hold ourselves to a high standard, and we hold the countries to whom we export arms to a high standard, and I think that is what you would expect.

'And it contrasts so strongly, our adherence to very high values, with the appalling atrocities that have been committed by terrorist organisations against Israel.'

Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said he has 'serious concerns about a breach in international humanitarian law' when asked about Israel's actions six months on from the October 7 attacks.

Mr Lammy also repeated his call for Lord Cameron to publish the Foreign Office's legal advice.

He told Sky News: 'Let me begin because Elad Katzir, one of the hostages, we now know is dead and we saw protests in Israel overnight.

'It is important to remember that there are well over 100 hostages, some may no longer be alive, in Gaza. And this story began with that horrific event on October 7.

'But as we sit here six months later, I think it is important to reaffirm that a life lost is a life lost whether that is a Muslim, or a Jew. Far too many people have died, 33,000 now.

'Many women, many children, and I think it is serious when we have senior judges who are on our Supreme Court who raise issues about the clear risk of breaches in international law, former head of the MI6 Sir Alex Younger says the same.

'And, of course, I've said that I have serious concerns about a breach in international humanitarian law in regard to this and it's for that reason, that I'm asking David Cameron to be very clear, and to publish the legal advice because this is serious for the British people because it would mean that we are complicit in that action.'

In a letter sent to Lord Cameron today, Mr Lammy called on the Foreign Secretary to stop 'hiding from scrutiny' and take questions from MPs over whether continued arms sales puts the Government 'in breach of domestic law'.