(Bloomberg) — The United Kingdom will suspend about 30 of its 350 arms licenses to Israel after concluding that the use of British components in Gaza violates international humanitarian law, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.
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Lammy told the House of Commons on Monday that licences for components used in F-16 fighter jets, helicopters, drones and naval systems, as well as items that facilitate ground targeting, had been suspended. The decision follows a review of the UK’s arms export regime, which grants licences to defence companies that make military equipment for Israel. The British government does not send weapons directly to Israel, unlike the US.
“The assessment I have received does not allow me to reach any other conclusion than that there is a clear risk that certain UK arms exports to Israel could be used to commit or facilitate a serious breach of international humanitarian law,” Lammy said.
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He said the suspension did not amount to an arms embargo and would have no material impact on Israel’s security. He said the administration had not and could not arbitrate on whether Israel had violated international humanitarian law.
Although the UK supplies less than 1% of Israel’s arms and is not a state supplier, the Labour and Conservative governments are under increasing pressure to review arms exports.
The move follows the shock defeats suffered by the current governing party in its landslide general election victory two months ago, when Labour candidates in areas with large Muslim populations were thrown out over Keir Starmer’s strong support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.
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