UK Foreign Secretary Cameron says 'not wise' to ban arms sales to Israel

Speaking to the BBC, Cameron said he did not agree with comments made by US President Joe Biden that suggested imposing some restrictions on weapon exports if Israel attacked the city in southern Gaza, which has become a haven for Palestinians fleeing the rest of the enclave.

"The last time I was urged to do that, I didn't do that, and just a few days later there was a brutal attack by Iran on Israel ... I think it would have sent an entirely wrong message," he said, referring to a direct attack by Iran on Israel last month that left no reported casualties.

"Just to simply announce today that we will change our approach on arms exports, it would make Hamas stronger and it would make a hostage deal less likely."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said he would push on with his plans to invade Rafah in order to uproot Hamas, which was responsible for an attack in Israel on 7 October that left 1,170 people dead and saw hundreds of captured Israelis and others taken to Gaza.

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