UK suspends some arms export licences to Israel
The government will suspend some arms export licences to Israel due to a "clear risk" they could be used to "commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law".
Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel will be suspended. He stressed this is "not an arms embargo" nor a blanket ban.
Lammy, however, insisted the partial arms suspension is “not a determination of innocence or guilt” and that "we have not and could not arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law".
The government has also introduced new sanctions on four Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) force targets who play a role in supporting Iranian proxy actions in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
Lammy told the Commons: “Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government’s legal duty to review export licences.
"Criteria 2C of the strategic export licensing criteria states that 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.
“It is with regret that I inform the House today 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 that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law."
The government will "continue to support Israel's right to defence in accordance with international humanitarian laws", he said, adding it was not a decision that was taken "lightly".
The previous administration and Labour have faced growing pressure to suspend arms sales to Israel for some months, due to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the high number of civilian casualties there.
Lammy said Israel could be doing more to ensure life-saving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza, adding that Benjamin Netanyahu's government has not "satisfactorily" addressed concerns raised by the UK and allies about this, nor claims of mistreatment of detainees.
“Israel’s actions in Gaza continue to lead to immense loss of civilian life, widespread destruction to civilian infrastructure, and immense suffering," he told the Commons.
“In many cases, it’s not impossible to reach determinative conclusion on allegations regarding Israel’s conduct of facilities, in part because there is insufficient information, either from Israel or other reliable sources to verify such claims.
“Nevertheless, it is the assessment of His Majesty’s Government that Israel could recently do more to ensure life-saving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza, in light of the appalling humanitarian situation.
“And this government is also deeply concerned by credible claims of mistreatment of detainees, which the International Committee of the Red Cross cannot investigate after being denied access to places of detention.
“Both my predecessor and all our major allies have repeatedly and forcefully raised these concerns with the Israeli government. Regrettably, they have not been addressed satisfactorily.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, in a written ministerial statement, said suspended licences include those for components for fighter aircraft (F-16s), parts for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), naval systems, and targeting equipment.
He added: “The Government condemned Hamas’ barbaric attack on October 7 and supports Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law. The Government is also working intensively with international partners to encourage wider regional de-escalation in the context of recent events.
“This is not a blanket ban but targets relevant licences that could be used in military operations in Gaza.
“Assessments of Israel’s commitment to international humanitarian law will continue, including with regard to the provision of food and medical supplies to civilians in Gaza and the treatment of detainees, and may change over time to allow reinstatement of these licences.”
Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.
On sanctions against IRGC-affiliated people and entities, the foreign secretary said more than 400 Iranian individuals and entities have been sanctioned and the government is "exposing and containing Iran’s destabilising weapons development, where soon we’ll be introducing further regulations to bolster existing bans on the export of goods and technology significant to Iran’s production of drones and missiles".
He added: "Let me be clear, we will continue to work with Israel and our partners to tackle the threat from Iran across the region. This government will continue to stand for Israel’s security, and we will always do in a manner which is consistent with our obligations to domestic and international law.”
Conflict in the Middle East could go in “two radically different directions”, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary warned Lammy.
Andrew Mitchell told MPs: “I want to reiterate that the situation in the West Bank has also deteriorated and become yet more tense.
“While Israel must protect its vital security interests, we urge the Netanyahu government to do so in such a way which minimises the risk of yet further instability and escalation.”
DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the UK will “regret” suspending certain arms exports to Israel, as he claimed Hamas has been offered “a line of hope” as a result of the decision.
The MP for East Antrim said: “The only people who will be overjoyed by this decision today will be the Hamas terrorists who murdered in cold blood six hostages at the weekend. They have been handed a line of hope that this government will not stand firm in its defence of Israel’s right to defend itself.”
The move comes as hundreds of thousands of Israelis hit the streets in protest over the weekend, after the Israel Defence Force (IDF) recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza.
Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino were found dead on Saturday in a tunnel in Rafah, the Israeli military said.
An IDF spokesperson said "they were cruelly murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them".
Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, said the hostages would still be alive if Israel had accepted a US-backed ceasefire proposal that Hamas said it had agreed to in July.
Three of the six hostages found dead were reportedly scheduled to be released in the first phase of the deal. A general strike is now underway in some parts of Israel, which was called to demand the government reach a hostage release deal.
The UK is one of several Western countries that has arms export licences with Israel.
In August, the US approved a further $20 billion-worth (£15.5 billion) of arms sales to Israel amid the threat of a wider war across the Middle East.
Four months prior, a long-awaited report by the US government found Israel may have breached international humanitarian law using US weapons in Gaza. It said any evidence that could link arms to specific strikes could give the administration leeway in any future decision on whether to restrict US provisions of offensive weapons to Israel.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led militants broke into Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 others.
More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s counter-attack in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...