MPs asked if they will back Israel weapons sale ban

We contacted MPs Layla Moran and Anneliese Dodds, who represent the Oxford West and Abingdon and Oxford East constituencies respectively.

Three former Supreme Court justices and more than 600 legal experts have asked the UK government to put an end to weapons sales to Israel.

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Ms Moran, a Liberal Democrat, said: "Clearly, with the dreadful current conflict in Gaza, it's beyond time for the UK Government to introduce such a policy and suspend arms exports to Israel immediately."

Layla Moran. (Image: Jon Lewis.)

The MP, whose mother is Palestinian, revealed in November last year she had lost a relative in Gaza due to inability to access medical care.

Israel's military occupation of Palestine spurred Hamas attacks on October 7 which killed more than 1,000 Israelis and saw 253 hostages seized.

The resulting Israeli bombing campaign has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians with South Africa bringing forward a case of genocide to the international court of human rights.

Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP, said: "My deepest sympathies are with the families of the three British citizens who put their lives at risk to get much needed aid to Palestinian civilians.

"Israel must face serious consequences, not just tough rhetoric, for their appalling deaths.
 
"There are serious accusations that Israel has breached international law.

"The law is clear.

Anneliese Dodds. (Image: Newsquest.)

"British arms licenses cannot be granted if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
 
"Labour are calling on the Government to urgently publish their legal advice on arms exports.

"If it says there is a clear risk that UK arms might be used in such a breach, it is time to suspend the sale of those arms.

"If David Cameron has received this advice, he must act on it.”

The Labour party has been criticised for its stance on the conflict with 10 Oxford councillors having resigned since the conflict began.

Oxford city councillor Shaista Aziz, among the first councillors in Oxford to resign from the Labour party, said: "Gaza has been obliterated.

"For any Oxford MP not to be loudly calling for an immediate arms embargo on Israel is for them to be giving a further green light to Israel as the occupying power to continue killing Palestinians.

"It also speaks to them disregarding international law and international humanitarian law."

Shaista Aziz. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

Oxford Rhodes Scholars for Palestine member, Joumana Talhouk, said: "The Oxford city and campus communities have flooded the streets for months demanding an end to this genocide, and our MPs have a duty to listen and to end the UK’s complicity in Israel’s crimes."

Dr Teige Matthews-Palmer, a University and College Union activist who spoke in a personal capacity, added: "We have witnessed 181 days of what the UN human rights special rapporteur's latest report concludes is in fact a genocide, and the UK has been supplying the technology, intelligence and diplomatic support all along and continues to do so. 

"Anneliese Dodds has abstained and dodged the question of a ceasefire repeatedly, even while Layla Moran's very own family where hunted and murdered by Israeli forces.

Protesters in Oxford. (Image: Tom Seaward)

"Oxford City Council has been a leading light in passing a ceasefire motion, and our city's strong voice for universal human rights on this issue should make us all proud and should make politicians seriously reflect on their role in either supporting or bringing an end to genocide in Gaza."

Ms Dodds disputed the claims made by Dr Matthews-Palmer.

We have approached the remaining Oxfordshire MPs, who are all Conservative, for comment but are yet to receive a response, with the exception of one from Robert Courts, MP for Witney.

Mr Courts said: “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the British aid workers killed in Monday’s airstrike.

"Nobody wants to see this conflict last a moment longer.

"But while Hamas continue to reject Israel’s offers for a ceasefire - as they did again last week - and while Hamas continues to launch rockets into Israel and hold Israeli hostages, it is Israel’s right to defend itself within international humanitarian law. 

"This Government takes its export control responsibilities extremely seriously - operating one of the most robust export control regimes in the world."

The comments come as Israel has rejected Hamas truce offers.