Deputy PM Oliver Dowden blasted haters who ‘relish’ Israel’s mistakes amid Cabinet split over Gaza war

THE Deputy PM has hit out at haters who “relish” Israel’s mistakes in the war with Hamas.

Oliver Dowden warned that critics were “pushing this case against Israel”.

Speaking out yesterday, six months after Hamas terrorists killed more than 1,000 people while invading from Gaza, he said: “Many people in the Jewish community and in Israel have expected this shift.”

But his words appeared to lift the lid on a Cabinet split.

The Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has warned that UK support of Israel is not unconditional after the death of three British aid workers last week in a botched drone strike.

However, Mr Dowden was far more forthright in his support, adding Israel was conducting a “legitimate campaign” in a “very difficult environment”.

And he said the UK will continue to supply arms to them amid a row over whether Israel has breached international law.

Mr Dowden said: “The manner in which some people are seizing on this . . . I think there is a bit of relish that some people are pushing this case against Israel.”

He admitted the Israelis made “big mistakes”.

But he added: “We rightly hold ourselves to a high standard and we hold the countries to whom we export arms to a high standard.”

Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Sky News he has “serious concerns” about law breaches by Israel.

Foreign Office sources insisted the Government is not split.