UK suspends 30 arms export licences to Israel

UK will suspend 30 arms export licences to Israel after a government review found possible breaches of international humanitarian law in their use in Gaza.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed that “this is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo,” with only 30 of the 350 licences being suspended.

Soon after the Labour Party won an election in July, Lammy said he would update a review on arms sales to Israel to ensure these complied with international law.

“It is with regret that I inform the House [of Commons] 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,” Lammy said.

Israel stands accused of committing genocide in Gaza. Its almost 11-month bombing campaign in the Strip has killed almost 41,000 Palestinians and wounded over 94,200 others. Tens of thousands are missing, presumed dead under the rubble.

It has also decimated the enclave, destroying all the universities and damaging or destroying the majority of schools, with roads and infrastructure raised and internally displacing more than 90 per cent of Gaza’s population.

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