Israel suspends spokesperson Eylon Levy after diplomatic spat with UK FM David Cameron

Israel's government spokesperson, Eylon Levy, was suspended by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Tuesday, due to a reported dispute with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron on X over aid deliveries.

After Cameron urged Israel to allow more aid trucks into Gaza in a now-deleted tweet on X, Levy replied: "I hope you are also aware there are NO limits on the entry of food, water, medicine, or shelter equipment into Gaza, and in fact the crossings have EXCESS capacity."

"Test us. Send another 100 trucks a day to Kerem Shalom and we'll get them in," Levy added, referring to the crossing on Israel's border with Gaza. Levy's statement meant aid deliveries would increase by over 50 percent.

Israel has been accused of "systematically" blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza despite an order from the UN's top court to ensure aid gets into the Palestinian territory. At the same time, Israeli protesters have been blocking vital aid at the border with Gaza to prevent essential supplies like food, fuel, water, and medicine from entering.

This response prompted British MP Alicia Kearns, who Chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the UK parliament, to write to Cameron asking for a reaction to the Israeli government's offer to increase aid deliveries by 12 March.

Kearns also criticised Levy after he claimed the United Nations is responsible for blocking aid deliveries into Gaza.

I’ve shared with @David_Cameron Official Spokesman for the Govt of Israel @EylonALevy’s statement that Israel can increase the number of trucks carrying lifesaving aid into Gaza each day by 100 trucks.

That would increase aid deliveries by over 50%.

I’ve also urged the Foreign… pic.twitter.com/8gjqruZrhi

— Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) March 9, 2024

According to Israel's Channel 12, which did not cite a source, the British government sent an official letter claiming they "were surprised" by Levy's post, asking for clarification and whether it reflects Israel's official position. Levy was suspended shortly after.

Levy became Israel's spokesperson after 7 October and has since represented the Israeli government on British and American TV.

Israeli media reported that the Israeli Prime Minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu, tried to have him removed for supporting protests against her husband's controversial judicial overhaul reforms. 

Levy had allegedly published tweets supporting the  protests against Netanyahu prior to the current war on Gaza.