The UK government is “deeply complicit” in the violence towards Palestinians by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and must do more to encourage Tel Aviv to show restraint, a campaigning and anti-poverty group told The Independent on Monday.
Ryvka Barnard, the War on Want’s senior campaigns officer, also slammed the British government for its decision to abstain from a recent UN vote which condemned Tel Aviv’s tactics and use of “excessive force” in dispersing protests.
READ MORE: Violent Clashes in Gaza Strip Kill 4, Wound Hundreds – Authorities
“In abstaining from this vote, the UK government has yet again refused to commit to the protection of Palestinians’ human rights as they are targeted with the brutal and unlawful use of force by the Israeli military,” he said.
The UN resolution was successfully passed despite eight votes against it and 45 abstentions.
In addition to condemning the IDF’s violence toward Palestinians, the resolution called on militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip to immediately cease shelling Israeli territory, including civilian areas, though it failed to single out Hamas.
Mr. Barnard went on to say that the UK government’s approval of arms sales to the IDF shows they are not neutral and have some role in the violence.
“But make no mistake, the UK is not sitting aside and remaining neutral. While the world calls for violent attacks on Palestinians to end, the UK government continues to approve arms exports to Israel, making it complicit in the violence.”
US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the embassy there galvanized Palestinians and increased the intensity of the wave of protests, which campaigned for numerous issues.
The violence has died down for now, but a long-term solution to the multi-decade crisis is as far away as ever, and regional tensions remain high.
READ MORE: UNGA Votes to Condemn Israel's 'Excessive Force' Against Gaza Protests
