Britain has decided to suspend 30 of its 350 arms export licenses with Israel due to concerns that the equipment might be used in ways that violate international humanitarian law, Foreign Minister David Lammy announced on Monday.
This suspension is not a blanket ban or arms embargo, but rather a targeted action affecting licenses that could be linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Lammy emphasized that while Israel has the right to defend itself against security threats, the methods it has employed, along with reports of civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure, are troubling. The suspension follows a review that Lammy initiated after the Labour Party’s victory in July, aimed at ensuring that UK arms exports to Israel comply with international law.
Lammy informed Parliament that the assessment he received indicated a clear risk that certain UK arms exports to Israel might be used to facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. Although British exports represent less than 1% of the total arms Israel receives, Lammy noted that the suspension is unlikely to materially impact Israel’s security. He reiterated Britain’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized the decision, calling it disappointing and suggesting it sends a problematic message to Hamas and its supporters in Iran.
Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders are under investigation for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity following Hamas’s October 7 attacks in southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths according to Israeli reports. The Israeli response in Gaza has reportedly led to over 40,700 deaths, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Lammy clarified that the decision is not a judgment on whether Israel has breached international law, but rather a forward-looking evaluation that does not prejudge any future legal determinations.
Data from the Department for Business and Trade’s Export Control unit shows that the value of UK military equipment permits to Israel dropped by more than 95% to a 13-year low after the Gaza conflict began. Many of the approved licenses during this period were for non-lethal items like body armor, helmets, or vehicles with ballistic protection.
Despite winning a landslide victory in July, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s party faced setbacks in areas with large Muslim populations and has been under pressure to take a firmer stance on Israel.
The suspension includes components for military aircraft, such as fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. However, parts for F-35 fighters are exempt, except when going directly to Israel, as suspending these parts would disrupt the global F-35 program.
Sam Perlo-Freeman, Research Coordinator for Campaign Against Arms Trade, welcomed the suspension but criticized the exemption for F-35 parts as “outrageous and unjustifiable.”
Unlike the United States, which directly sells arms to Israel, Britain issues licenses for companies to sell weapons, with legal input to ensure compliance with international law. Earlier this month, the U.S. approved a $20 billion sale of fighter jets and other military equipment to Israel.
