Fury as Warsi quits in Gaza row

PM facing fresh pressure over Gaza

9:32am Tuesday 5th August 2014 in National News Press Association 2014

Prime Minister David Cameron faces more pressure over the situation in Gaza

David Cameron is facing fresh pressure over Gaza in the wake of Baroness Warsi's resignation, with his Liberal Democrat coalition partners demanding the suspension of arms export licences to Israel.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he agreed with former Foreign Office minister Lady Warsi that there were "serious questions" about the licences.

"It's obvious to me that however much Israel has every right to defend itself from those rocket attacks from Hamas, nonetheless the Israeli military operation overstepped the mark in Gaza," Mr Clegg said.

"This outrageous spectacle of these three UN schools being hit by Israeli military action. That's why I believe that the export licences should now be suspended.

"I'm working with (Business Secretary) Vince Cable on this.

"It is his department that administers these export licences and he and I both believe the actions of the Israeli military, overstepping the mark in Gaza, breach the conditions of those export licences and that's why we want to see them suspended pending a wider review of whether they should be revoked more permanently in the long run."

The Government has already launched a review of export licences, but no decisions have been taken on suspension.

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Fury as Warsi quits in Gaza row