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UK Halts 30 Arms Export Licences to Israel Following Comprehensive Review
In a significant move, the United Kingdom has suspended 30 arms export licences to Israel following a thorough review by the newly installed Labour government. The decision comes amid concerns that UK-supplied arms could be used in violation of international humanitarian law, particularly in relation to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the provision of aid to Gaza.
The Foreign Office announced that the two-month review had raised serious concerns about Israel's conduct in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While no definitive conclusions have been drawn regarding the direct involvement of UK arms in the destruction within the territory, the scale of devastation and the high number of civilian casualties have prompted alarm.
The suspension covers components for military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. This action represents approximately one-tenth of the 350 existing licences and does not include parts for the F-35 Joint Fighter Strike programme unless the UK-supplied component is specific to a jet plane used exclusively by Israel.
This move is expected to help Foreign Secretary David Lammy navigate potential dissent at the upcoming Labour Party annual conference. However, it may also strain relations with the Biden administration in the United States, which has repeatedly asserted that there is no basis in international humanitarian law to suspend arms exports.
The UK government is also facing a growing number of domestic legal challenges, including court proceedings set to commence this week. Officials were cautious about linking the suspended licences to specific breaches of international humanitarian law but noted that negotiations with the Israeli government to gain access to Palestinian detainees, either through British judicial figures or the International Committee of the Red Cross, have so far been unsuccessful.
Ministers were quick to emphasise that the suspension does not signal a shift in the UK's commitment to Israel's security. They pointed out that similar suspensions have occurred during previous Israeli conflicts, including under the governments of Margaret Thatcher in 1982, Gordon Brown in 2009, and the coalition government in 2014. Arms export licences were also suspended to Egypt in 2013 and Russia in 2014.
Officials stated that Foreign Secretary Lammy and his aides had not been privy to the decision-making process on arms sales under the previous Conservative government. However, Labour ministers have reached a different conclusion based on similar evidence. The Conservatives conducted four reviews of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law but never published the findings or explanations. In contrast, Lammy has published an explanation of his legal reasoning.
This decision underscores the new Labour government's commitment to transparency and accountability in arms exports, particularly in regions of conflict. The move is likely to be closely watched by international observers and human rights advocates as the situation in Gaza continues to evolve.