Britain on Monday said it would suspend 30 out of 350 arms exports licences to Israel, citing a “clear risk” they could be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy told parliament the partial ban covered items “which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza” against Hamas but did not include parts for the F-35 fighter jets.
The UK, he said, was not imposing an arms embargo or prejudging the rulings of any international court. But the government, he said, had a legal duty to review all export licences.
As a result, around 30 of the current 350 arms export licences are being suspended. They include components for military aircraft, helicopters, drones and equipment involved in targeting.
Significantly, the decision is not based simply on the conduct of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza – despite the loss of civilian life and widespread destruction, the foreign secretary said there wasn’t enough reliable evidence to make a definitive conclusion that Israel had violated international humanitarian law.
Instead, the government has highlighted the lack of food and medicine reaching Gaza, and what it calls credible claims of the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners.
Lammy said the UK still supported Israel’s right to self defence, in accordance with international law. And he said Britain would continue to work with international partners to stand up to what he called Iranian aggression across the Middle East.
As we just reported, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, said the suspension sent a very problematic message to Iran and Hamas. But Israeli officials knew this was coming. They also know that the licences suspended today represent a tiny fraction of Israel’s arms imports.
Relations between the two countries, in terms of military cooperation and intelligence sharing, remain close.
