EPAThe UK has suspended some arms sales to Israel, saying there is a “clear risk” the equipment could be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK will be suspending 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel.
The equipment affected includes parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones.
Mr Lammy said the UK continued to support Israel’s right to defend itself, and this did not amount to an arms embargo.
He said many had raised concerns about British arms export licensing to Israel over its military activity during the war in Gaza.
The foreign secretary said he immediately sought a review of British arms exports to Israel after the Labour government took office in July.
He said the review did not and “could not arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law”.
“This is a forward-looking evaluation, not a determination of innocence or guilt,” Mr Lammy said.
EPABut he said its licensing rules state the government will not issue export licences “if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law”.
Mr Lammy said: “It is with regret…the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other 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.”
He said the partial ban covered items “which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza”.
In a separate statement, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he had “instructed officials to suspend licences for exports to Israel, where we have assessed those items are for use in military operations in Gaza”.
“This is not a blanket ban but targets relevant licences that could be used in military operations in Gaza,” Mr Reynolds said.
Western governments have been coming under growing pressure to halt arms sales to Israel over how it is waging the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Labour government has called for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, the release of all hostages and an increase in the amount of aid to civilians in Gaza.
Some backbench Labour MPs have been urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to go further and ban British arms sales to Israel.
The US is by far the biggest supplier of arms to Israel, accounting for 69% of its imports of major conventional arms between 2019 and 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The Campaign Against Arms Trade says that since 2008, the UK has granted arms export licences to Israel worth £574m ($727m) in total.
Research by Parliament shows the value of licences granted has declined from £42m in 2022 to £18.2m in 2023.