Benjamin Netanyahu is putting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to restore all weapons licenses to Israel.
The Israeli Prime Minister 'raised the issue' that Britain had suspended around 30 permits in a phone call yesterday, just hours after Donald Trump became US President.
A readout from the Jewish State press office showed that Sir Keir 'said a review of the matter is being carried out'.
Downing Street made no reference to the case, focusing instead on how the British leader “expressed his personal gratitude” for the rescue of British hostage Emily Damari.
The 28-year-old was spotted for the first time last night with her iconic hand, which had two fingers shot off, without bandages. Her mum Mandy uploaded the image of Emily proudly hitting the rockstar post with it on Twitter to thank her supporters.
A spokesperson for Number 10 said last night about the gun licences: 'We have been consistent in saying we are monitoring these matters.'
The renewed arms embargo row suggests Mr Netanyahu could strong-arm Britain into restarting gun licensing after his friend Mr Trump returns as president.
The American leader is expected to support the Jewish state significantly more than his predecessor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is putting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to restore all weapons permits to Israel
Sir Keir in the Downing Street briefing room. A spokesperson for Number 10 said last night about the gun permits: “We have been consistent in saying we are monitoring these matters.”
He has already reversed sanctions imposed by Joe Biden on extremist settlers in the West Bank, bringing him into conflict with Sir Keir.
Mr. Trump also withdrew funding from UNRWA, the U.N. refugee support agency in Gaza, which Israel has called on to be disbanded after scores of employees have been exposed as Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists.
In stark contrast, one of the first steps the Labor government took to take power last year was to resume aid to the organization.
The Daily Mail then revealed that they had imposed a 'secret arms embargo' days before Foreign Secretary David Lammy made it official.
It caused anger among Netanyahu's government.
In an exclusive interview with the Mail, the Israeli prime minister attacked the “misguided” policy and said Sir Keir was “sending a terrible message to Hamas”.
Now it appears that Trump's return and the ceasefire in Gaza are emboldening Britain to row back.
No. 10 could not say why the British account of Sir Keir's phone call with Mr Netanyahu differed from Israel's when asked last night.
Netanyahu with President Donald Trump in 2017. Trump has already reversed sanctions imposed by Joe Biden on extremist settlers in the West Bank, putting him at odds with Sir Keir
According to the British account of the call, Sir Keir 'reiterated that it is vital to ensure that humanitarian aid can now flow uninterrupted into Gaza, to support the Palestinians who desperately need it'.
It is also said that Britain is prepared to do 'whatever it can to support a political process, which should also lead to a viable and sovereign Palestinian state'.
It comes as IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced last night that he will resign on March 6, citing his “responsibility for the IDF's failure on October 7.”
The military was blindsided by Hamas's 2023 attack, which left 1,200 dead and 250 hostages taken. Halevi was widely praised for resigning over the shortcomings.
Rumors also emerged last night that Israeli Shin Bet director Ronen Bar would also resign once all the hostages are returned.
But Netanyahu has shown no willingness to resign because of the massive failures that led to October 7.
His controversial reforms of the justice system led to massive public unrest in the lead-up to the massacre. He was warned by intelligence agencies and military leaders that they were endangering national security, but he went ahead anyway.
