Sunak urged to issue legal opinion on claims government lawyers believe Israel is breaking international law

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The government faces calls from opposition parties and senior conservatives for it to publish legal advice it received on the Gaza war following allegations that he had been warned that Israel had breached humanitarian law. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Lord Cameron and Rishi Sunak should “tell the truth” about what they was said.

It follows a leaked recording of a senior Tory MP, who claimed ministers were hiding the advice.

Alicia Kearns, chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said she was satisfied that ministers had concluded that Israel was not demonstrating its commitment to international law.

The Foreign Ministry said it was keeping advice on Israel's compliance with international law under review, but would remain confidential.

Israel is subject to to intense international scrutiny over its treatment of Palestinians since the start of the war against Hamas, which followed the October 7 atrocities in which 1,200 people were killed.

David Cameron and Rishi Sunak must now be transparent and publish the legal advice they received

David Lammy

In the leaked recording of Ms Kearns answering questions at an evening drinks party hosted by West Hampstead and Fortune. On March 13, in London, she told the Green Conservatives: “The Foreign Office has received official legal advice that Israel has violated international humanitarian law, but the government has not announced this.

“They didn’t say it, they didn’t say it. have not stopped arms exports.

"They have taken some very small sanctions against Israeli settlers - and everyone internationally agrees that the settlers are illegal , that they should not be doing what they are doing, and the way in which they have continued and the money that has been invested."

Licenses to export arms cannot be granted. ..