UK suspends 30 arms exports to Israel over Gaza war crimes concerns

The United Kingdom has suspended 30 arms export licenses to Israel following a review by the newly elected Labour government. The review indicated that British-made weapons may have been used in violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Human rights activists and arms control campaigners, who have long advocated for a complete halt to arms sales to Israel, welcomed the suspension but criticized the continued export of F-35 fighter jet components, which one campaigner described as “a key element of Israel’s devastating bombing campaign.”

The suspension, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Parliament on Monday, specifically targets components for various military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. However, around 320 other licenses, including those for items with civilian applications, remain unaffected.

Under the UK’s arms export criteria, the government must suspend arms export licenses if there is a clear risk that British weapons might be used in serious breaches of international humanitarian law.

Addressing MPs, Lammy stated, “Given the nature of this conflict, it is the government’s legal duty to review export licenses. Unfortunately, the assessment I have received indicates that, for certain UK arms exports to Israel, there is indeed a clear risk.”

Lammy emphasized that the review’s findings, which will be summarized in a forthcoming publication, do not conclusively determine that Israel violated humanitarian law, noting that not all allegations can be verified. Nonetheless, he pointed out that the assessment suggests Israel could do more to ensure the delivery of life-saving food and medical supplies to Gaza.

Lammy also expressed the government’s deep concern over reports of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, noting that the International Committee of the Red Cross has been unable to investigate due to being denied access. “These concerns have been raised by my predecessor and major allies,” Lammy said. “Unfortunately, they remain inadequately addressed.”

He added that the UK would continue to support Israel if it faced attacks, particularly from Iran, and announced new sanctions against three members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“This government will always stand for Israel’s security, while ensuring we comply with both domestic and international law,” Lammy said.

‘Too Little, Too Late’

The announcement came just hours before two organizations, which have challenged the UK government in the High Court over ongoing arms exports, were set to initiate new legal action to halt the exports immediately.

Lawyers from the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq said they had informed the government last week of their intention to seek an emergency order, planning to do so at a Tuesday morning hearing. However, following Monday’s announcement, the organizations stated they would review whether the suspension was sufficient given the gravity of the situation and decide if further legal action was necessary.

Dearbhla Minogue, a senior lawyer at GLAN, commented that the government’s “significant decision validates everything Palestinians have been saying for months.”

“The UK government was forced into this position,” she added.

Despite the suspension, human rights groups and campaigners who have long demanded a complete cessation of UK arms exports to Israel were disappointed that F-35 components were not included in the ban.

“The suspension of export licenses took far too long and didn’t go far enough,” said Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director of Human Rights Watch. “Exempting components for the F-35, which is central to Israel’s harsh bombing campaign, either shows a misunderstanding of the law or a deliberate disregard.”

Earlier on Monday, Danish media outlet Information reported that the Israeli military used an F-35 stealth fighter in a July 13th attack on a designated safe zone in Gaza, resulting in at least 90 deaths. British-made components constitute 15 percent of all F-35 fighter jets, raising concerns about whether this would influence UK arms export policy.

However, Lammy stated that F-35 parts, used in a multinational program, were not included in the suspension, as doing so would “undermine the global F-35 supply chain, which is crucial for the security of the UK, our allies, and NATO.”

Sam Perlo-Freeman, research coordinator at Campaign Against Arms Trade, condemned the exclusion of F-35 parts, calling it “completely outrageous and unjustifiable.”

“These are by far the UK’s most significant arms supplies to the Israeli military, and today we have confirmation that they were used in one of the most egregious attacks in recent months,” he said.

Anna Stavrianakis, Director of Research and Strategy at the UK-based Shadow World Investigations and a professor of international relations at the University of Sussex, told Middle East Eye that without suspending F-35 components, the statement “appears more as an attempt to appease critics than a genuine restriction on Israel’s capacity to commit severe violations.”

Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding, also told MEE that it was extraordinary that it took “11 months of ongoing violence and atrocities” for the government to reach this conclusion, calling it “unforgivable.”

However, he acknowledged that the move was a step in the right direction. “The most crucial aspect is that, for the first time, a British government has recognized that Israel likely violated international law in Gaza,” Doyle said. “This opens up a necessary discussion.”

Labour MP Afzal Khan expressed satisfaction with Lammy’s decision, calling it an “important first step.” He emphasized, “Upholding international humanitarian law must be a cornerstone of any export regime, and it’s evident the new Labour government understands this.”

“Ultimately, the only solution to prevent the killing of innocent Palestinian civilians is an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as the Labour Government has consistently advocated. This must remain our highest priority.”

Josh Paul, the former U.S. official who resigned last October in protest over American arms transfers to Israel, told MEE, “With America’s closest ally, the UK, now acknowledging the clear and undeniable risk of harm and legal violations linked to continued arms transfers to Israel, one can only hope the U.S. will take notice and follow suit.”

“Regrettably,” he concluded, “under the current administration, I don’t expect this to happen.”