MPs urged the government to stop arms sales to Israel today as parliamentary anger mounted over the country’s assault on Rafah and British ministerial apathy.

Labour MP Apsana Begum asked “how the government continuing to arm Israel’s bombardment of Palestinians can possibly be justified,” while former shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon called for “ending arms sales and ending trade talks” with Israel.

Workers Party leader George Galloway pointed out that the government’s position had not changed despite the escalation of Israel’s military action in Gaza, including against “600,000 child hostages in Rafah.”

Labour MP Beth Winter accused Israel of showing “total disregard for civilian life and international law” while former shadow chancellor John McDonnell called for Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to be “pursued as a war criminal.”

Concerns were also strongly expressed by SNP MPs including Anum Qaisar, who said that the government seemed to have “no red lines” it would not allow Israel to cross.

However, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell made no commitments on arms sales or anything else, despite having told MPs last week that an Israeli attack on Rafah would almost certainly breach international humanitarian law.

He was sustained by the Labour front bench, which again failed to call for a suspension of arms sales to Israel, despite bluster from shadow foreign secretary David Lammy.

And there was anger at Tory hardliner Suella Braverman, who said Israel needed to be allowed to “finish the job” in Gaza, despite the immense human suffering.

Outside the Commons, Global Justice Now director Nick Dearden warned: “Britain is complicit with Israel’s war crimes, but ordinary people across the country have not given their backing to this: we must continue to raise our voices.”