PM's top legal adviser intervenes in review of weapons sales to Israel

Keir Starmer's most senior legal adviser has intervened in the contentious decision over whether to ban UK arms sales to Israel, the Guardian has learned, as officials struggle to distinguish between "offensive" and "defensive" weapons.

- Kiran Stacey

Sources say Richard Hermer, the attorney general, has told Foreign Office officials he will not approve a decision to ban some weapons sales but allow others, until they can say for sure which could be used to break international humanitarian law.

The legal wrangling at the top of government is understood to be the principal cause of the delay to the decision, which has become even more sensitive in recent weeks as the crisis in the Middle East escalates.

A Foreign Office spokesperson would not comment on Lord Hermer's role but said: "This government is committed to upholding international law. We have made clear that we will not export items if they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

"There is an ongoing review process to assess whether Israel is complying with international humanitarian law, which the foreign secretary initiated on day one in office. We will provide an update as soon as that review process has been completed."