Tories Are Split Over Pressure To Halt Weapon Sales To Israel

A new divide has emerged in the Conservative party with a growing number of MPs expressing resistance to calls to suspend arms sales to Israel over intensified violence in Gaza.

The deaths of aid workers in airstrikes conducted by the Israeli military on Monday, including three British nationals, has heightened pressure on the UK to toughen its stance on Israel. While the government supports calls for some form of ceasefire in Gaza, there is a growing consensus among political figures that arms sales to Israel should be suspended if they are believed to have broken international law with military action in Gaza, which has killed around 32,000 civilians since last October. 

But while Labour and Lib Dems appear united in their call for the suspense of arms sales to Israel, the Conservative party appear to be deeply divided on the issue. 

On Thursday Conservative Campaign Headquarters confirmed former UK Foreign Minister Sir Alan Duncan was under investigation for comments he made to LBC that arms sales should be halted “immediately” and for security minister Tom Tugendhat and Conservative peers Lord Polak and Lord Pickles to face repercussions for their support of Israel. He also told Times Radio that former home secretary Suella Braverman, who is a strong supporter of Israel, should have the whip removed.

While many Tory MPs believe the majority of the party still backs Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza, foreign secretary Lord David Cameron is considered to be especially hawkish when it comes to Israel, leaving some Conservative MPs to believe that the UK could toughen its stance on the conflict, including with an arms embargo. 

One minister told PoliticsHome they believed that the bulk of the Tory Party was in favour