A former Conservative minister who is under party investigation is facing fresh criticism over his latest comments about Israel.

Sir Alan Duncan has been accused of “virtually blaming” the country for the Hamas attacks on October 7 that killed more than 1,000 people.

Politics Live: Duncan fights back after investigation

former foreign minister, Who is under investigation for individual commentstold Sky News that the “cause and origin” of the attack “stemmed from them (Israel)”.

He called on the UK to suspend arms sales to Israel, saying: “Hamas’ attacks are a response to years of hardship in Gaza, but more importantly, Israel’s continued illegal annexation of the West Bank.”

Sky political correspondent Rob Powell questioned how close he was to blaming Israel for what happened on October 7, saying: “Well, over time we can say that the cause and the root of it all stemmed from Israel. “

He added: “I condemn the nature of Hamas’ attacks. I condemn anti-Semitism. I condemn those who say Israel should not exist. But I equally condemn Israel’s excessive and illegal expansion into the West Bank by seizing other countries’ lands.”

It comes after the Conservative Party confirmed that Sir Alan, who served as an MP from 1992 to 2019, was under investigation by the Conservative Party over comments he made to LBC earlier today.

In the interview, he claimed that his pro-Israel colleagues, including Lord Stuart Polak, honorary chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI), and E. Lord Eric Pickles and others. Groups in the House of Lords.

The remarks were condemned by Jewish groups. The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) said Sir Alan had “invoked classic anti-Semitic tropes of Jewish power and disloyalty” by “suggesting that some members of the House of Lords are working for Israel”.

Reacting to his latest comments, CAA told Sky News: “As if it were not enough, Sir Alan Duncan today accused some MPs of being controlled by Israel, not for the first time invoking metaphors about Jewish money and so-called big money. Jewish The impact of the state on British democracy.

“Now he is all but blaming Israel for the massacre of more than 1,000 Israeli citizens by the anti-Semitic genocidal terror group Hamas. This is victim blaming at its ugliest kind. Where will Sir Alan end up? What a lesson for the Conservatives That’s a terrible reflection on the party, which must ultimately expel him. “

Sky News has contacted Sir Alan for further comment.

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Separately, Sir Alan issued a statement on the decision to investigate him over the LBC interview, saying it could cause “dangerous damage” to the party’s reputation.

He said he had not been informed directly by the party that he was under investigation and that the party had not put forward “any substantive justification for their actions”.

“If this is indeed their intention, then I may be the only person to be condemned for upholding the policies of my party and defending the principles of international law and justice when others undermine it.

“If they choose to do this, they should not be surprised if it backfires hugely on them and proves to be dangerously damaging to their own reputations.”