The decision only applies to around a tenth of London’s military sales to the country
The UK has suspended approximately 30 arms export licenses to Israel due to concerns that the equipment is being used in violation of international humanitarian law, according to the British Foreign Office. This was announced on Monday.
The suspension will affect about 30 items currently used by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, the Foreign Office stated. The list of items includes aircraft and drone components, as well as equipment that enables the Israeli military to target specific locations in the Palestinian enclave.
British-made components for the US-led F-35 fighter jet will not be included in the suspension, the statement emphasized. Jonathan Reynolds, Business and Trade Secretary, added that the UK will maintain its “important commitment” to the program, under which Israel has received 36 of the latest generation warplanes.
“The suspension will not change the UK’s steadfast support for Israel’s security, and the decision will be kept under review,” the statement read, emphasizing that the remaining 350 export licenses to Israel are unaffected.
The Labour government in Britain initiated a review of these licenses shortly after assuming power in July. Foreign Secretary David Lammy traveled to Israel twice since then to discuss the issue with his counterparts in West Jerusalem. The government has since concluded that there are “serious concerns about aspects of Israel’s compliance” with international humanitarian law and “a clear risk that items exported to Israel under these 30 licenses might be used in serious violations” of the law.
The Foreign Office’s statement did not accuse Israel of any specific violations of humanitarian law. However, the IDF has been repeatedly accused of disregard for civilian casualties and the deliberate targeting of non-combatants in Gaza. In May, a US State Department report concluded it was “reasonable to assess” that Israeli forces were employing American-made weapons in a manner “inconsistent with its obligations…for mitigating civilian harm.”
The State Department cited multiple instances where a significant number of Palestinian civilians were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Following the report’s publication, US President Joe Biden halted the shipment of certain weapons, including 2,000-pound unguided bombs, to Israel.
Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,100 people and the capture of about 250 hostages, prompting Israel to declare war on the militant group. As of Monday, the Israeli campaign has resulted in the deaths of nearly 41,000 people in Gaza, according to the latest figures from the enclave’s health ministry. The majority of these casualties are women and children.
The British government states that defense sales to Israel amounted to approximately £42 million ($53 million) in 2022. According to the Campaign Against Arms Trade, the UK has approved at least £474 million ($560 million) in exports to Israel since 2015.