By Harun Nasrallah
London, (The Muslim News): The UK government has been criticized for “gesture politics” after Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced in Parliament on Monday that Britain will suspend 30 of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing concerns over potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Lammy explained that the decision to suspend the licences does not constitute a blanket ban or an arms embargo but pertains only to those that could be used in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“We recognise, of course, Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply concerned by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in particular,” Lammy told Parliament.
Following the Labour Party’s election victory in July, Lammy had promised to review arms sales to the UK’s ally Israel to ensure compliance with international law.
“It is with regret that I inform the House of Commons today that the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain UK arms exports to Israel, there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” Lammy said.
The arms export suspension includes components for military aircraft such as fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. However, parts for F-35 fighters will be exempted, except when going directly to Israel, as the government stated it was not possible to suspend these without affecting the jets’ entire global programme.
Amnesty International UK has accused the government of engaging in “gesture politics,” highlighting that fewer than 10% of arms export licences were suspended. The charity’s Chief Executive, Sacha Deshmukh, criticised the restrictions as “too limited and riddled with loopholes.” Deshmukh argued, “The decision means that while ministers apparently accept that Israel may be committing war crimes in Gaza, [the government] is nevertheless continuing to risk complicity in war crimes, apartheid – and possible genocide – by Israeli forces in Gaza.”
“While this decision appears to demonstrate that the UK has finally accepted the very clear and disturbing evidence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, it’s unfortunately too limited and riddled with loopholes.
“Exempting the F-35 fighter jet programme – essentially giving this programme a blank cheque to continue despite knowing that F-35s are being used extensively in Gaza – is a catastrophically bad decision for the future of arms control and misses a clear obligation to hold Israel accountable for its extensive war crimes and other violations.
“Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have already killed and injured tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including entire families wiped out in their homes, displaced people killed in their tents, and aid workers and journalists apparently targeted while doing their jobs.
“Today’s decision means that while ministers apparently accept that Israel may be committing war crimes in Gaza, it is nevertheless continuing to risk complicity in war crimes, apartheid – and possible genocide – by Israeli forces in Gaza and elsewhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
“We need to see a complete halt – with no loopholes, including for components for F-35s supplied to the USA for onward export to the Israeli military – to all UK arms transfers to Israel.”
The Campaign Against Arms Trade welcomed the partial suspensions as a belated but positive step, acknowledging that it finally addresses the overwhelming evidence of Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Sam Perlo-Freeman, the Campaign’s Research Coordinator, commented, “However, exempting components for Israel’s F-35 is completely outrageous and unjustifiable.”
British exports account for less than 1% of the total arms Israel receives, and the minister stated that the suspension would not materially impact Israel’s security, with Britain continuing to support its right to self-defence.
Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, described the decision as disappointing and “sending a very problematic message” to the Hamas and in Iran.
Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders are under investigation for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity following the 7 October attacks by Hamas in southern Israel, which, according to Israeli reports, killed 1,200 people.
The Israeli response in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,700 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Lammy clarified that the partial suspension was not a judgment on whether Israel had breached international law.
“This is a forward-looking evaluation, not a determination of innocence or guilt, and it does not prejudge any future determinations by the competent courts,” he said.
Data from the Department for Business and Trade’s Export Control unit show the value of permits granted for the sale of military equipment to Israel fell by more than 95% to a 13-year low after the conflict in Gaza began.
Many of the licences approved after the conflict’s onset were for items listed for “commercial use” or non-lethal items such as body armour, military helmets, or all-wheel drive vehicles with ballistic protection.
Unlike the US, the British government does not provide arms directly to Israel but issues licences for companies to sell weapons, with legal input on whether they comply with international law. Earlier this month, the United States approved the sale of $20 billion in fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel.
Zarah Sultana, who is currently sitting as an independent MP after being suspended from the Labour Party, has called for an end to all arms sales to Israel. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the MP for Coventry South described the F35 jets as “the most lethal in the world.”
Former national arms advisor Lord Peter Ricketts told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the government’s decision was “long overdue.” He added that the UK should have stopped selling arms to Israel following an Israeli strike in April that killed seven aid workers, citing “abundant evidence” that obligations on civilian safety were not being fulfilled.
Lord Ricketts said: “There comes a point when the legal advice is so clear the government has an obligation to follow it.”
Lammy’s statement coincided with a report from Danish news outlet Information and the NGO Danwatch, which for the first time confirmed that Israel employed an F-35 stealth fighter in a targeted attack on Gaza.
The strike took place on July 13 in Al-Mawasi, a “safe zone” designated by Israel in southern Gaza, resulting in 90 fatalities and at least 300 injuries.
[Photo: Relatives of Palestinians who were killed by Israeli attacks on Asdaa area, NW of Khan Yunis, mourn as dead bodies brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza on 03 09, 2024. Photojournalist: Abed Rahim Khatib/ AA]
