Stopping British arms sales to Israel if it launches a ground assault on Rafah in the Gaza Strip would strengthen Hamas, United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Cameron argues.

According to Al Jazeera, Cameron said he did not support an operation in Rafah in the absence of a plan to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians sheltering in the southern city on the Egyptian border.

However, the UK is in a “completely different position” to the United States in terms of providing arms to Israel, he said, noting that less than 1 per cent of Israel’s weapons come from the UK and they are controlled by a strict licensing system.