**UK Foreign Secretary Condemns Israel’s Conduct in Gaza, Calls for Change**
The UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling on the international community to take action to end the war. In a statement, Lammy expressed his anger and sadness at the recent killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces at aid centers.
**UK’s Military Assistance to Israel Under Scrutiny**
The UK has faced scrutiny over its military assistance to Israel, particularly since the launch of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the 7 October attacks. While the US is the largest supplier of arms to Israel, the UK has also provided significant support, including components for the F-35 jet used by Israel.
According to Professor Anna Stavrianakis, an expert on UK arms export, the government’s decision to exempt certain parts for the F-35 from its export ban is “an immense loophole”. The professor noted that most UK-made parts for the F-35 are sent to the US, where they are incorporated into jets bound for Israel.
**Intelligence Sharing and Military Training**
It remains unclear to what extent the UK has shared intelligence information with Israel since the 7 October attacks. Defence officials claim that the government has had a “defence partner” with Israel for many years, including education, training, and capability development.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has reportedly flown hundreds of hours over Gaza using Shadow R1 spy aircraft based on an RAF base in Cyprus. However, Foreign Secretary Lammy stated that these flights did not involve the sharing of military intelligence between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the RAF.
**Sanctions and Diplomatic Pressure**
The UK government has faced calls to impose sanctions directly on Israel for its actions in Gaza, which have killed at least 59,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. While the Labour government has suspended talks to upgrade the free trade agreement with Israel and condemned the “inhumane murder of civilians” in Gaza, it has not imposed direct sanctions on Israel.
**What’s Next for BBC Verify?**
BBC Verify is seeking public input on what to investigate next. What would you like us to explore further?
(Note: I’ve broken up the original article into smaller sections with clear headings and condensed the content while maintaining its core meaning.)
