Israel's attorney general has warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he cannot share COVID-19 vaccines with allies in Africa, Europe and Latin America, and that such an important decision cannot be made by a single prime minister.

In an official letter, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit argues that Netanyahu should have consulted with the cabinet to make such a decision.

Last week, Netanyahu announced his decision to share some of the vaccine stockpiles in Israel, sparking an outcry. The decision was later frozen due to legal issues in Israel. However, thousands of doses of the vaccine have been shipped to Honduras and reportedly also to the Czech Republic.

Netanyahu did not name the countries he intended to provide vaccines to but the Israeli broadcaster said they include a number of countries supporting Israel's claims to Jerusalem as its capital.