Skip to main content
‘Far too little, far too late’
Britain's call for temporary Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire not enough, campaigners say
Ali Abdel Rahman Zorout, (5), who was wounded by an Israeli air strike, poses for a picture at the Alaaeddine Hospital in Sarafand, south Lebanon, September 26, 2024

BRITAIN came under increased pressure to stop arms sales to Israel today after the Western-backed state snubbed international calls for a 21-day temporary ceasefire and unleashed a “fresh wave of horror” across Lebanon.

Amnesty International UK warned Israel could be committing more war crimes as it raised “deep alarm” over the staggering death toll since it launched an intense series of air strikes that began earlier this week, displacing half a million people.

The Stop the War Coalition (StWC) and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP were also among the peace campaigners calling for urgent action to prevent an all-out regional war in the Middle East.

Senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns Erika Guevara Rosas said: “As Israel continues to intensify and expand its bombardment, and Hezbollah continues to launch attacks into Israel, all parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law and take all feasible precautions to protect civilian lives.

“We urge all states to halt all arms transfers and other forms of military assistance to Israel and Hezbollah due to the significant risk that these weapons could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes.”

StWC said Britain’s decision to join the US, France and a host of allies in calling for the ceasefire, was “far too little, far too late, warning that the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah is “intolerable.” 

In a joint statement, the 12-strong bloc urged a pause in fighting “to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement,” as well as a ceasefire in Gaza.

A StWC spokeswoman said: “This call for a temporary ceasefire is far too little, far too late and sends a message to Israel that it can go on killing hundreds of civilians with inpunity.

“Little wonder then that Israeli jets continued striking Lebanon after the call was made.

“The government must demand a permanent ceasefire and end all arms sales to Israel.”

Donate to the Fighting Fund
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Britain / 17 April 2025
17 April 2025
By Berny Torre in Harrogate
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede
Britain / 17 April 2025
17 April 2025
By Berny Torre in Harrogate
NEU Conference 2025 / 17 April 2025
17 April 2025
Similar stories
Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Adre, on a visit to see how
Britain / 4 April 2025
4 April 2025
New stats show huge chunk of foreign aid is spent housing asylum-seekers within Britain
An Israeli tank sits near the Israeli-Lebanese border, as se
Features / 7 December 2024
7 December 2024
Is the ceasefire a victory for Israel or for Hezbollah, and what are the consequences for Gaza? MARC VANDEPITTE assesses the terrain
BLAIR’S WARS: A British soldier trains his rifle on a crow
Opinion / 14 November 2024
14 November 2024
Genocide, racism and imperialism are in the Labour Party’s DNA, argues TOM SYKES