In a press conference held in Washington, DC, Foreign Minister David Cameron announced on Tuesday that the United Kingdom will continue to allow arms sales to Israel by British companies. This decision comes after a review of the latest legal advice on the matter.

The Prime Minister's government has faced significant pressure to revoke licenses that permit arms exports to Israel, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has lasted for six months and was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. Last year alone, the UK supplied £42 million ($53 million) worth of arms to Israel.

Despite calls from over 600 members of the British legal profession and three former senior UK judges to halt arms sales, the government's position remains unchanged. Opposition parties in the UK have called for Parliament to be recalled from its holiday break in order to address the issue and also to make the legal advice public.

Amnesty International UK's crisis response manager, Kristyan Benedict, voiced disappointment with the decision, stating, "This was yet another missed opportunity from David Cameron to move himself and other UK officials away from their current complicity in Israeli war crimes, apartheid, and possible genocide."

Israel has vehemently denied allegations of war crimes or genocide, as well as the use of the term "apartheid" to describe their treatment of Palestinians.

Cameron acknowledged the concerns regarding humanitarian access in Gaza but defended the government's decision not to publish the legal advice. He emphasized the importance of acting consistently with legal advice while keeping it confidential.

Meanwhile, in a development related to the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to launch a military offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza, where over a million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter from the Israeli assault. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed ongoing talks between Israeli and US officials regarding the potential operation in Rafah, and stressed the need for caution to avoid harm to civilians.

Blinken also mentioned efforts to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt. The US has been working closely with these countries to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza, with 400 trucks cleared to enter the area on Monday.

As the conflict continues, international attention remains focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing debate surrounding arms sales to Israel. The UK's decision has disappointed human rights advocates who argue that such sales may further perpetuate violence and potential human rights abuses in the region.