Britain Puts Limits on Arms Deal with Jewish State

Britain has suspended some of its arms sales to Israel in response to fears that UK-manufactured weapons may be used against civilians in Gaza.

The government has suspended 30 of Britain’s 350 arms export licences after a review raised concerns that the weapons could be used in breach of international humanitarian law. The decision covers components for fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as equipment for hitting targets on the ground.

Although Britain supplies about only 0.02 per cent of the country’s defensive arsenal, Israel said it was “deeply disheartened” and that the British government’s “sanctions” would “send a very problematic message” to Iran.

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defence Minister, wrote on X: “Deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions … This comes at a time when we fight a war on seven different fronts – a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organisation, unprovoked. At a time when we mourn six hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home.”

Israel Katz, the Foreign Minister, said: “A step of the type taken by Britain now sends a very problematic message to the terrorist organisation Hamas and its agents in Iran.”

Sir Oliver Dowden, the shadow deputy prime minister, tweeted: “Very concerned by Labour government decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel just days after six hostages murdered by Hamas.”

Britain has now gone further than the US, which has threatened to suspend exports but stopped short of doing so. Kamala Harris, the Democrat nominee for the presidency, has ruled out such a decision, saying that her support for Israel was “unequivocal”.

The decision led to divisions within the Labour Party. Labour Friends of Israel raised concerns about the “signal this sends”, and the Labour Muslim Network said Prime Minister Keir Starmer should have made an outright ban.

Announcing the decision in the Commons, David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, said there was a clear risk British-made arms might be used to commit a “serious violation of international humanitarian law.” He said what he was announcing was not a “blanket ban” or an “arms embargo”.

“We cannot and could not arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law. Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government’s legal duty to review Britain’s export licences.” He added: “There is no equivalence between Hamas terrorists and Israel’s democratic government, or indeed Iran and their partners and proxies.”