Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed at least 43,922 Palestinians and wounded 103,898 since October 7, 2023. During the 2023/24 Israel-Palestine conflict, some MPs in the UK Parliament have raised concerns about UK arms exports to Israel. They cite a risk that they could be used to violate international humanitarian law. It leads to several reviews between October 2023 and May 2024.
These reviews were carried out under the UK’s arms export criteria. The Conservative Government concluded that no licenses needed to be suspended or revoked. The New government suspended a small portion of it. The crisis happening in Gaza that killed about 50 thousand people is rooted in support of Western governments. This support includes political and military support to Israel. The UK is one of the frontlines of military support to Israel. Labour MPs’ objections to UK arms sales can be a very key element to stop the crisis in Gaza.
New review and new Government
Upon taking office in July 2024, the Labour government undertook a fresh review. On September 2, the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced the suspension of around 30 licenses. It is out of about 350 permits to Israel. He said that “for certain exports,” the Government had concluded there was a “clear risk” they “might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.” The primary sources of arms for Israel are the United States and Germany. The UK Government granted licenses valued at £42 million in 2022, which, it said, was less than 1% of Israel’s defence imports. The value of exports dropped to £18 million in 2023. The Government granted 108 licenses for military and non-military controlled goods to Israel.
The Government identified 28 existing licenses involving equipment “which was most likely the Israeli Defence Forces will use in offensive operations in Gaza.” These included components for combat aircraft, utility helicopters, armoured personnel carriers, naval vessels, radars, and targeting equipment. Finally, Mr Lammy announced the suspension of 30 licenses for Israel. These include components for fighter aircraft (F-16s), parts for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or drones), naval systems, and targeting equipment—Labour MPs’ objections to UK arms sales followed by other parties. The SNP also called on the Government to suspend arms exports. The SNP welcomed the decision but said the number of licenses suspended was “far too limited a response”. They also called for advice and legal assessment on why the other permits remain to be published.
The Israeli Government criticised the suspension of licenses.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was “shameful.” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel “operates by international law […] and expects ally nations like Britain to recognize that”. The United States said it would not comment on the UK decision and Labour MPs’ objections to UK arms sales. But it would continue to support Israel’s defensive capabilities. The White House said that “there’s been no determination by the United States that they [Israel] have violated international humanitarian law.”
Amnesty International said the Lammy’s decision was “filled with loopholes and did not go far enough.” Continuing to supply Israel with F-35 components “is a catastrophic failure for arms control and justice,” it said. “Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have already killed and injured tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. It’s time for a complete halt to arms transfers – no loopholes, no limitations,” the organization’s UK branch said in a statement.
What do people think about the Gaza crisis?
Both the Israeli Government and its allies are responsible for the current conflict in Israel and Gaza. 3 in 5 of the UK public (60%) say Israel’s military action in Gaza as part of its conflict with Hamas has gone too far. While 3 in 4 Britons (73%) support an immediate unconditional ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. 60% think this will unlikely be peace before the end of 2024.
The recent escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is also a subject of concern for a majority of Britons (71%). On this subject, almost half (48%) say Israel’s military actions in Lebanon have gone too far. 17% said that they were about right, and 8% were not far enough (24% didn’t know). However, note that fieldwork took place before the recent attacks by Iran on Israel. This social situation will cause Labour MPs’ objections to UK arms sales.
Israel’s war crimes, reasons behind Labour MPs’ objections to UK arms sales
Israel has perpetrated a concerted policy to destroy Gaza’s healthcare system as part of a broader assault on Gaza. They commit war crimes and crimes against humanity of extermination with relentless and deliberate attacks on medical personnel and facilities. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, said in a new report.
The independent UN Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, has published its latest report investigating attacks on Gaza’s medical facilities and personnel since October 7 2023. They conclude that Israeli forces have committed war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination in Gaza. The report, released on October 10, details the systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system as well as the mistreatment of healthcare workers, detainees, and patients. The Commission found that Israel has implemented a concerted policy to destroy the healthcare system of Gaza. Israel forces have “deliberately killed, wounded, arrested, detained, mistreated and tortured medical personnel and targeted medical vehicles.” These acts were carried out in conjunction with Israeli authorities’ collective punishment of Palestinians and the tightened siege of Gaza. It has resulted in hospital shortages of fuel, food, water, medicine, and medical supplies.
The UK is one of the largest exporters of arms in the world.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimated that the UK was the seventh largest exporter of major conventional weapons between 2018 and 2022 (behind the US, Russia, France, China, Germany and Italy). Until early 2024, the Committees on Arms Export Controls (CAEC) scrutinized UK arms export policy and implementation. CAEC drew on the membership of four select committees. These committees are the Defence, Foreign Affairs, Business and Trade, and International Development Committees.
Campaign against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK group calling to end the international arms trade. They expressed that “the majority of UK arms exports continue to go to highly autocratic regimes” and countries that are “actively engaged in armed conflict” and are not defending themselves from foreign invasion. CAAT has twice taken the Government to court to obtain a Judicial Review of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza in October 2023, several Members have called on the Government to suspend arms exports to Israel. Labour MPs’ objections to UK arms sales support what CATT reported.
