Aarohi Dhumale
On 2nd September 2024, the United Kingdom suspended arms exports to Israel, marking a sudden shift in its foreign policy. This decision has invited the wrath of Israeli officials.
This decision comes after months of public protests at weapons factories all over the country against arming Israel. After coming back from summer recess, Foreign Secretary David Lammy informed the Parliament that the U.K. is suspending 30 out of 350 arms export licences for Israel. He said that a legal review found, “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 they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation on international humanitarian law.” Israel has denied these allegations.
Although the U.S.A. and Germany being largest arms exporters to
Israel, the U.K.’s share in exports, despite being small, is considerable. It shows that the U.K. is aligned with the U.S.A. in its views. However, the numbers of exports have declined from about $55 million in 2022, to about $24 million in 2023, as per government sources.
This ban covers some of the arms “which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza”, said the Foreign Secretary.
The U.K. manufactures and exports parts of the F35 fighter jets used by Israel. This won’t be covered under the ban as it is a part of a global programme.
The Labour Party, within two weeks of forming a government, had announced resumption of funding UNRWA, (UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees) after a review of alleged links between its staff and terror groups. Then it also announced that it won’t be challenging the International Criminal Court’s right to seek an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.