Britain has suspended some arms sales to Israel, citing concerns the weapons could violate international humanitarian law.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Monday Around 30 of the total 350 licences are set to be suspended with immediate effect as a result of an investigation commissioned after the July elections.
The licences include equipment to be installed on military aircraft, helicopters, drones and ground targets which the UK has identified as being used in the “current conflict in Gaza”.
“I regret to report to Parliament today that the assessment I have received does not allow me to conclude anything other than that there is a clear risk that certain arms exports from the UK to Israel could commit or contribute to serious breaches of international humanitarian law,” Mr Lammy told MPs.
Britain is among Israel's allies facing growing pressure from voters to halt arms sales to Israel as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 40,000 in the 11-month-old war, the Associated Press reported.
The announcement followed news from Israel that six hostages had been killed and found dead in an underground tunnel in Rafah shortly before Hamas forces arrived.
The UK announcement marks a departure from other allies, including the US, where President Biden said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not done enough to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Lamy said the UK announcement was not a “innocent or guilty decision” on whether Israel had broken international law, nor was it an arms embargo.
In his speech, Lamy highlighted that Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas attack had caused “enormous civilian casualties,” suffering and destruction.
He said it was difficult to draw conclusions about Israel's actions, but “His Majesty's Government” had determined that Israel could “do more” to provide food and medical supplies to civilians in Gaza.
Lamy said he and his predecessor, David Cameron, had raised concerns with the Israeli government but that the government had not responded “satisfactorily” to their concerns.
“There is no equivalence between Hamas terrorists and Israel's democratic government, or Iran and its partners and proxies. But authorizing arms exports to Israel requires an assessment of compliance with international humanitarian law, despite the abhorrence of the hostile forces' tactics and ideology,” he said.
