A Labour MP today apologised for a PMQs rant accusing Rishi Sunak of having ‘blood on his hands’ for supporting Israel.
Tahir Ali launched the salvo in the Commons swiping that the premier had ‘boldly stated’ confidence in Israel following international law despite Foreign Office concerns.
The Birmingham Hall Green MP said: ‘Therefore, is it now not the time for the Prime Minister to admit that he has the blood of thousands of innocent people on his hands and for him to commit to demanding an immediate ceasefire and an ending of UK’s arms trade with Israel?’
But to roars of approval from the Tory benches, Mr Sunak simply pointed out that the intervention undermined Keir Starmer’s claim to have reformed the party since the Jeremy Corbyn era. ‘That’s the face of the changed Labour Party,’ he said.
The Labour leadership moved to distance itself from Mr Ali’s comments after the clashes in the chamber, with a party spokesman branding them ‘clearly inappropriate’.
And this afternoon the MP said sorry in a statement on social media. ‘Earlier at PMQs I asked the Prime Minister about the actions of Israel in Gaza,’ he wrote.
‘This is obviously a deeply emotive issue. While I do not resile from my strongly held views on the situation in the Middle East I would like to apologise for the way in which I described.’
Labour MP Tahir Ali today apologised for a PMQs rant accusing Rishi Sunak of having ‘blood on his hands’ for supporting Israel
To roars of approval from the Tory benches, Mr Sunak simply pointed out that the intervention undermined Keir Starmer’s claim to have reformed the party since the Jeremy Corbyn era
Mr Ali issued an apology saying politicians must be ‘respectful in the language that we use’
Kemi Badenoch waded into the row saying ‘some Labour MPs think they’re in parliament to represent other countries against the UK’
He went on: ‘We all have a responsibility to be respectful in the language that we use, even when discussing difficult and, at times, sensitive issues.’
Levelling his question at Mr Sunak at PMQs, Mr Ali said: ‘Recently released documents reveal that the Foreign Office had serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law and its ongoing assault on Gaza.
‘This assessment was hidden from Parliament whilst the Prime Minister boldly stated his confidence in Israel’s respect for international law.
‘Since then, the scale of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza have been revealed to the world thanks to South Africa’s case to the ICJ.
‘Therefore, is it now not the time for the Prime Minister to admit that he has the blood of thousands of innocent people on his hands and for him to commit to demanding an immediate ceasefire and an ending of UK’s arms trade with Israel?’
Asked about the remarks later, a Labour spokesman said: ‘That language is clearly inappropriate and not language we would support or endorse or believe should be used.’
It is not yet clear whether any conversations have taken place between party whips and Mr Ali.
The Guardian reported last week that an internal Foreign Office assessment, after reviewing a report from Amnesty International, initially concluded it had ‘serious concerns’ about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The assessment related to a decision on whether to revoke arms export licences to Israel.
The newspaper reported that an internal Government assessment unit then concluded it did not have sufficient information to decide on compliance and left the decision to ministers, with Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron ultimately advising against revoking arms export licences and instead saying the situation should be kept under review.
Labour moved to distance itself from Mr Ali’s comments after the clashes in the chamber, with a spokesman for Keir Starmer (pictured) branding them ‘clearly inappropriate’
Lord Cameron reportedly said there was ‘good evidence to support a judgment that Israel is committed to complying with IHL (international humanitarian law)’.
Earlier in PMQs, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: ‘I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to rise to that despatch box and tell the people of these isles and elsewhere that shooting an unarmed man walking under a white flag is a war crime.
‘Now in recent weeks this House has acted with urgency and intent following an ITV drama, the question is will this House now show the same urgency and intent following this ITV News report and finally back a ceasefire?’
Mr Sunak replied: ‘No-one wants to see this conflict go on for a moment longer than is necessary and we do want to see an immediate and sustained humanitarian pause.’
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: ‘The next time there’s a vote at the UN for a ceasefire, will his representative vote for it?’
Mr Sunak said: ‘Of course we will engage with all UN resolutions on their merits.’