The British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced on Monday (September 2) that the UK will immediately suspend 30 out of 350 arms export licenses signed with Israel, as these equipment could potentially be used to violate international humanitarian law.
In a statement made in the House of Commons regarding the UK’s Middle East policy, Lammy revealed this decision, stating that shortly after the Labour Party won the election in July, he initiated a review of arms sales to ally Israel to ensure compliance with international law.
Referring to the UK government’s criteria for issuing strategic export permits, Lammy emphasized that “if there is a clear risk that these items might be used to commit or assist in serious violations of international humanitarian law, the government will not grant export licenses.”
Lammy stated, “Today, I regret to inform the House… that there is indeed a clear risk that these weapons could be used to commit or assist in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
The suspended export weapons include key components for military aircraft such as fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and equipment aiding ground targeting.
However, parts for F-35 fighter jets will be exempted unless they are directly destined for Israel. Lammy explained that this decision aims to ensure that the entire global supply chain for F-35 fighter jets remains unaffected.
He stressed that the suspension of permits does not equate to a “complete ban” or an “arms embargo,” but only relates to weapons that could be used in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
Lammy assured that the suspension of exports would not have a substantive impact on Israel’s security, and the UK will continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, expressed disappointment on social media platform X regarding the UK government’s sanction on export permits to Israeli defense agencies. Gallant highlighted the ongoing battles on seven different fronts against a brutal terrorist organization, emphasizing the unjust acts carried out by Hamas.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, also took to X to express disappointment over the decision, stating that it sends a problematic message to Hamas, an Islamic extremist group, and its supporters in Iran.
Unlike the US, the UK government does not directly supply arms to Israel but issues licenses to companies for selling weapons, providing legal advice on these companies’ compliance with international law.
According to a report by the BBC on August 19, a counter-terrorism official at the UK Foreign Office resigned in mid-August to protest arms sales to Israel. The official had been part of the review process for Middle East arms export permits within the government department.
Upon resigning, the official widely distributed their resignation email throughout the country’s diplomatic system, reaching hundreds of senior government officials, embassy staff, and special advisers to Foreign Office ministers.
The report also cited information from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), stating that Foreign Secretary Lammy initiated a review on his “first day in office” to assess Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
Based on information provided by government officials and public data, Reuters reported that the value of military equipment export permits to Israel from the UK plummeted by over 95% after the Gaza conflict erupted, hitting the lowest level in 13 years.
Many permits approved during this period were for items designated for “commercial use” or non-lethal items, such as bulletproof vests, military helmets, or armored wheeled vehicles.
Furthermore, despite the landslide victory of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s party in the July elections, the party faced significant setbacks in areas with substantial Muslim populations. Some lawmakers pressured him to adopt a tougher stance against Israel in the Gaza conflict.
(This article was partially based on reports from Reuters)