David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has turned up the heat on Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government as he announces a ban on 30 arms exports licenses to Israel, however critics say the decision doesn’t go far enough.
The Labour Minister made the announcement in Parliament earlier today, following a review by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office lawyers, who concluded that there was a real risk of the arms being used for violation of humanitarian law.
While stressing that the UK still supports Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance to international law, he told the House of Commons of his decision to suspend 30 out of 350 export licenses.
“Let me leave this house in no doubt, the UK continues to support Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law,” he said.
However, “The assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain U.K. 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”.
Mr Lammy added that “We do not take this decision lightly,” and that the UK will “continue to work with Israel to tackle the threat from Iran”.
Concluding that his department will continue to keep the sale of arms to Israel “under review”.
The Labour Government has been under pressure to end the sale of arms from a number of back bench MPs and campaign groups as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise and the humanitarian situation continues to worsen according to report.
The ban deliberately excluded aircraft parts for the F35 fighter plane which is operated by the US air force, RAF and Israeli’s.
However, the ban drew criticism from those who support a complete ban on arms to Israel.
Green MP Ellie Chowns said while today’s announcement is a “welcome and significant step” it left “vital questions unanswered – primarily, why so many licences are being exempt from the suspension”.
She added that there was “no justification at all” for continuing to license F-35 fighter jets and “there is an ongoing and clear risk and we urge the foreign secretary to look again and suspend these licences.”
While a senior Israeli official told the Telegraph newspaper that Israel was “furious” with the decision and that they [UK ministers] should think about the “signal it sends to the world” following Hamas’s execution of six hostages.
The announcement, by Mr Lammy also followed the news that former Labour leader and independent MP Jeremy Corbyn had formed a new “Independent Alliance” with four other pro-Gaza MPs to boost their voice in the House of Commons.
Mr Corbyn will join Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed in the new alliance, giving them the same parliamentary strength as Reform UK and the DUP.
Forming an official grouping is designed to increase the MPs’ chances of being called to speak in debates or ask questions in the Commons.
The five MPs said in a joint statement released on X, formerly Twitter: “We were elected by our constituents to provide hope in a Parliament of despair.
“Already, this Government has scrapped the winter fuel allowance for around 10 million pensioners, voted to keep the two-child benefits cap, and ignored calls to end arms sales to Israel.
“Millions of people are crying out for a real alternative to austerity, inequality and war – and their voices deserve to be heard.”
Foreign Secretary turns up the heat on Israel as he partially suspends arms sales
