French President Emmanuel Macron had previously urged Western nations to halt weapons shipments to Israel.
British Defense Secretary John Healey on Monday rejected French President Emmanuel Macron’s earlier call to stop weapons deliveries to Israel. In an interview with Sky News, Healey indicated that the UK would not support Macron’s initiative, as it “works a different system” for arms supplies.
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on southern Israel, which triggered the latter’s military operation in Gaza. The operation has escalated tensions between Israel and neighboring Muslim countries, which have sided with the Palestinians. Earlier this month, Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon, while Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel.
In an interview with French media aired on Saturday, Macron stated that Western nations should “stop delivering arms” to Israel, emphasizing the need for a “political solution” to the Middle East crisis and warning that Lebanon could become “a new Gaza.” His remarks prompted a swift and fiery response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, in a post on X, called Macron’s call a “disgrace” while vowing that Israel “would win with or without” Western support.
When asked about Macron’s suggestion, Healey made it clear that London would not support a full arms embargo on Israel. He noted that his country has its own regulations governing weapons exports to Israel.
“We as a Government don’t supply anything directly to Israel, but where there are export licenses that have a clear risk that may breach international law, then we’ve suspended those licenses where they could affect the lives in Gaza,” he stated. Healey was referring to the UK suspending 30 of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel last month, which included fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones. London justified the move at the time by warning of a “clear risk” these items could be used to violate international humanitarian law.
In his interview, Healey echoed Macron’s call for a political solution to the conflict, urging the global community to “redouble efforts to reduce the risk of wider war.” He acknowledged that “diplomacy is difficult,” but said that London is committed to trying to “lead a push for a better peace” that would ultimately result in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
The Times of Israel reported that Macron and Netanyahu spoke by phone late on Sunday. The two reportedly “acknowledge[d] their differences of opinion,” but Macron did not retract his call for a halt to arms supplies even as Netanyahu said he expected “Israel’s friends” to “stand behind it,” not impose limitations on West Jerusalem “that only strengthen the Iranian terror axis.”