Britain suspends Israel arms licences over Gaza struggle

Britain has suspended a swathe of licences for military equipment destined for Israel over fears it could be used to break international law in Gaza.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the Commons this afternoon that the government is halting 30 out of around 350 licences in light of new legal advice.

The action, which is likely to affect parts for fighter jets and drones, comes after widespread calls from pro-Palestinian groups for sales to the Netanyahu regime to be halted amid the bloodshed in Gaza. 

Mr Lammy told the Commons that Israel could be doing more to ensure ‘life-saving food and medical supplies’ reach civilians in Gaza.

 ‘Facing a conflict such as this, it is this Government’s legal duty to review export licences,’ he said.

‘It is with regret that I inform the House today 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.’

But he stressed that the action taken under the Export Control Act did not amount to an ‘arms embargo’. 

Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the Commons this afternoon that the government is halting 30 out of around 350 licences in light of new legal advice.

It comes as Israel is rocked by a wave of massive protests against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his conduct of the war since the Hamas terror attack last October.

It comes as Israel is rocked by a general strike in protests against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his conduct of the war since the Hamas terror attack last October. 

The strike action was called after the bodies of six hostages who were snatched during the October 7 massacre were found in a Gaza tunnel on Saturday.

On Sunday, Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, called for the general strike for Monday in a bid to shut down and disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care, and the country’s main airport.   

Airlines at Israel’s main international airport Ben-Gurion were halting outgoing flights between 8am and 10am, with images from the scene showing large crowds of people waiting for updates alongside their luggage. 

Mr Lammy, who has clashed with the Netanyahu government since taking office in July, also said Israel’s ‘actions in Gaza continue to lead to immense loss of civilian life, widespread destruction to civilian infrastructure, and immense suffering’.

‘In many cases, it’s not impossible to reach determinative conclusion on allegations regarding Israel’s conduct of facilities, in part because there is insufficient information, either from Israel or other reliable sources to verify such claims,’ he said.

‘Nevertheless, it is the assessment of His Majesty’s Government that Israel could recently do more to ensure life-saving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza, in light of the appalling humanitarian situation.

‘And this Government is also deeply concerned by credible claims of mistreatment of detainees, which the International Committee of the Red Cross cannot investigate after being denied access to places of detention.

‘Both my predecessor and all our major allies have repeatedly and forcefully raised these concerns with the Israeli government. Regrettably, they have not been addressed satisfactorily.’