The British Embassy announced on Tuesday that it has suspended arms export licenses to Israel, following a comprehensive review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law. The embassy said the decision was made based on strict criteria that require licenses to be suspended if there is a risk that the exported items will be used to commit serious violations of international law.
The statement indicated that the British government did not find sufficient evidence to justify the continued export of weapons that could be used in the current conflict in Gaza. The statement added that this suspension, which includes approximately 30 licenses, does not affect the United Kingdom’s support for Israel’s security, and will remain under review.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in his remarks to the House of Commons that assessments showed a clear risk that some British weapons could be used to commit serious violations of international law. He added that the suspension included weapons that might be used in the conflict in Gaza, but stressed the UK’s commitment to supporting Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.
For his part, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds explained that the decision is in line with the UK’s international and domestic legal obligations, adding that some licenses, such as those for F35 aircraft components, were not included in the comments to avoid significant impacts on global security.
In a related context, the United Kingdom also announced the imposition of sanctions on three members of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps for threatening stability in the Middle East, citing their role in supporting armed groups such as the Lebanese Hezbollah.
Source: Transparency News
