A WESTMINSTER debate on UK arms exports to Israel has been cancelled – while a debate on how National Grid proposals may impact on north east Lincolnshire will go ahead.
The last-minute change to the House of Commons schedule was made by the UK Government after Rishi Sunak called a General Election.
With the UK-wide vote coming on July 4, Parliament is to be prorogued on Friday May 24 and will be dissolved on May 30.
The Westminster business schedule was updated to remove a “general debate on UK arms exports to Israel”.
However, an adjournment debate on the “potential impact of National Grid proposals on the environment and economy of North East Lincolnshire” will still go ahead.
READ MORE: UK Government lawyers say Israel is breaking international law, Tory MP claims
SNP MP Philippa Whitford commented on social media: “With the ongoing death toll of civilians in Rafah and Gaza, I’m disappointed today’s debate, on suspending arms sales to Israel, has been cancelled.”
The parliamentary press office said business changes were an issue for the office of Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt. That office has been approached for comment.
Whitford further shared a letter signed by more than 100 parliamentarians calling on Foreign Secretary David Cameron to see the UK Government “do all it can” to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) after its chief prosecutor requested an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Chief prosecutor Karim Khan (below) also requested arrest warrants for three Hamas leader and Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister.
The UK Government has claimed that the ICC does not have the “jurisdiction” to seek to prosecute crimes in Palestine – but it does.
The letter, which Whitford has signed, reads: “We urge you to condemn any threats and attempts to undermine the independence and impartiality of the International Criminal Court in its investigations into crimes in Gaza.
"We also call on the UK Government to do all it can to support the court in ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of these crimes.
“As you know, the ICC, governed by the Rome Statute, was established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.
READ MORE: 'Strange': Keir Starmer silent as ICC seeks arrest warrants for Israeli leaders
“The ICC has the mandate to investigate and prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. This mandate includes the situation in Palestine and, since 2021, the Office of the Prosecutor has been investigating crimes alleged to have been committed there by all actors over the past decade.”
The UK Government has faced down repeated calls to stop arms exports to Israel amid concerns that they are being used to commit war crimes.
Cameron has claimed that the Tories are acting in accordance with legal advice.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here