UK to suspend 30 export licences for arms to Israel

Britain is suspending around 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel amid a “clear risk” they could be used to breach international humanitarian law relating to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the supply of aid to Gaza.

- DAVID MADDOX

Foreign secretary David Lammy told the House of Commons yesterday that a review conducted by the UK government could not “arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law” in Gaza, but ministers have a legal duty to review export licences. He said Israel had a right to defend itself but he was not satisfied with answers after he had raised concerns with the Israeli government.

Rishi Sunak’s government had refused to suspend arms sales to Israel; however, speaking for the Tories yesterday, shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell did not oppose the decision. But Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick called it “shameful gesture politics to appease the hard left”.

The first MP to speak out against the move in the Commons was the DUP’s Sammy Wilson who said: “The only people who will welcome this decision today are the terrorists in Hamas who murdered six hostages over the weekend.” But Mr Lammy’s decision also follows Jeremy Corbyn creating the new “independent group” of five MPs who were elected at the expense of Labour on pro-Gaza tickets in what was seen to be a direct threat to Keir Starmer’s government.