British lawmaker urges probe into UK arms’ role in Israeli attack on aid workers

Labour Party politician Richard Burgon calls for immediate investigation into whether U.K.-supplied arms were used in Israeli airstrike on Gaza aid workers, demanding suspension of arms sales to Israel

British lawmaker Richard Burgon has urged the U.K. government to initiate a thorough investigation into the Israeli assault on humanitarian aid workers in the Gaza Strip.

Emphasizing that this tragic incident showed why Britain “should immediately suspend arms sales to Israel.”

‘War crimes carried out by Israel in Gaza’

In a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Labour MP Richard Burgon demanded an immediate inquiry into whether weaponry supplied by the U.K. was utilized in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Monday, resulting in the deaths of seven aid workers associated with the food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), among them three British citizens.

“This attack once again underlines why the UK should immediately suspend arms sales to Israel, given the role these could be playing in such deadly attacks on Gaza and even in war crimes carried out by the Israeli government,” asserted Burgon, representing the constituency of East Leeds.

Following the targeted assault, WCK announced a temporary suspension of its operations in the region.

UK authorizes nearly $6M in military exports to Israel 

Burgon highlighted that since 2015, the U.K. had authorized military exports worth at least 474 million pounds ($596 million) to Israel, encompassing components for combat aircraft, missiles, tanks, technology, small arms, and ammunition.

“The UK provides approximately 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth bomber aircraft currently being used to indiscriminately drop bombs on Gaza,” Burgon remarked.

Probe into use of UK weapons in Gaza targeting doctors

It is also stressed that “this is also the latest incident where UK military exports may have been used in attacks on British nationals.”

He had previously penned a letter last month urging an investigation into whether U.K.-supplied military components had been deployed in the Israeli bombing of a compound housing British doctors volunteering in Gaza in January.

“Your Government has a responsibility to produce a swift and transparent investigation into both incidents to determine whether UK arms exports are being used in attacks on British nationals and to present this urgently to Parliament,” he added.

Apart from causing nearly 33,000 fatalities since Oct. 7, the Israeli offensive and blockade of the Gaza Strip have led to dire conditions affecting over 2 million Palestinians, including near-famine conditions and attacks targeting both aid workers and civilians seeking humanitarian assistance.

Source: Newsroom