Politics
Foreign Secretary calls on Brits to leave Lebanon while ‘commercial options remain’
Far-left MPs have accused Israel of breaking international law
September 20, 2024 10:09
Far-left MPs have accused Israel of breaking international law
September 20, 2024 10:09Foreign Secretary David Lammy has urged British nationals to leave Lebanon “while commercial options remain” amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and terrorist group Hezbollah.
In a post on X/Twitter last night, Lammy said he had spoken to Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati and expressed his “deep concern over rising tensions and civilian casualties in Lebanon.”
He continued: “We discussed the need for a negotiated solution to restore stability and security across the Blue Line.”
Overnight, Israeli forces struck hundreds of rocket launchers in Lebanon which they claimed “were ready for immediate launch into the territory of the State of Israel”.
In a speech yesterday afternoon, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused Israel of being responsible for a series of audacious attacks targeting members of the terrorist group’s communication devices.
He described it as a "major aggression against Lebanon" and accused Israel of "war crimes or a declaration of war". Israeli fighter jets were reportedly seen and heard over Beirut at the time of Nasrallah’s speech.
On Tuesday, thousands of pagers apparently used by members of the organisation exploded simultaneously and on Wednesday so did hand-held radio devices (walkie-talkies).
Israel has not officially taken responsibility for these explosions, but some MPs have urged the government to condemn them for it.
Green MP Carla Denyer said that: “No country can be allowed to break international law with impunity. The attacks in Lebanon – widely presumed to be by Mossad – are killing civilians. The UK government should condemn them unequivocally, and robustly challenge Gallant's trumpeted 'new phase' in a deadly war.”
Labour MP Zarah Sultana, currently suspended from the parliamentary party for voting against the government, posted on X/Twitter “Israel’s indiscriminate detonation of pagers and walkie-talkies across homes, workplaces and streets in Lebanon has killed at least 37 people and injured over 3,000. Israel knows it can commit war crimes with impunity. End all arms sales NOW.”
Foreign Office sources told the JC that all sides must adhere to international humanitarian law but refused to speculate on whether the attack constituted a violation of international law “while the facts are still being established”.