By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - The head of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said Tuesday that a recent announcement by the UK that it will suspend 30 of 350 export licenses in arms sales to Israel is a "small but important step" toward ensuring adherence to international law.
Zara Mohammed emphasized the devastating effect of the Israeli bombardment on civilian lives in the Gaza Strip and argued that the UK’s decision, while her group welcomed, falls far short of what is needed.
"It comes at a time when the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 40,000; too many lives have been lost and injured due to Israeli bombardment," said Mohammed.
the UK government announced Monday a restriction on arms sales to Israel in a significant yet limited policy shift. The move, which represents 1% of the UK's arms trade with Israel, comes amid growing international concern about the escalating conflict in Gaza.
Despite the move, Mohammed expressed deep concern about the continuing flow of arms from the UK to Israel, noting that the restricted licenses represent a fraction of the total arms trade.
"Many will still be left worried about the vast armoury our government is still supplying to Israel’s killing machine. We therefore need full clarity on arms sales to a state that openly flouts international law," said Mohammed.
She voiced alarm about backlash about the decision from far-right commentators and political figures, who have accused the government of "appeasing Muslims" and "giving into an Islamist lobby."
Mohammed condemned those narratives, which she said are being used to vilify Muslim communities and undermine legitimate concerns about the situation in Gaza.
"We are also troubled to see how politicians seeking leadership and far-right commentators are weaponising this decision once more to foment further hatred against Muslims," said Mohammed.
"To conflate democratically elected MPs campaigning on the widespread concerns of Gaza to Islamist and sectarian politics reminds us of the politics of hate and Islamophobia the former government is used to using to score political points at the expense of Muslim communities," she added.