UK suspends 30 arms export licences to Israel after review
The UK has moved to immediately suspend 30 arms export licences to Israel after a review by the new Labour government found a “clear risk” that UK arms may be used in serious violation of humanitarian law relating to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the supply of aid to Gaza.
The suspension will cover components for military aircraft including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones.
The Foreign Office said the two-month review had raised concerns about the way Israel had conducted itself in the conflict in Gaza.
No definitive conclusion has been reached about whether UK arms export licences have contributed to the destruction in the territory. But the scale of the destruction and the number of civilian deaths caused great concern, the Foreign Office said.
The suspensions represent one-tenth of the 350 extant licenses and do not include parts for the F-35 Joint Fighter Strike programme unless the UK-supplied part is specific to a jet plane for use exclusively by Israel.
The move, which was coordinated between the Foreign Office, the business department and the attorney general, is likely to help the foreign secretary, David Lammy, overcome what may a highly charged revolt at the Labour party annual conference. [Continue reading…]