The UK government has decided to suspend 30 arms licenses to Israel, out of approximately 350, due to concerns that British-made components used in military equipment could violate international humanitarian law in Gaza. These suspended licenses cover parts used in F-16 fighter jets, helicopters, drones, naval systems, and ground targeting items, as announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the House of Commons on Monday. This move comes after a review of the UK’s arms export regime, which allows defense companies to manufacture and sell military equipment to Israel. Unlike the US, the UK does not directly supply Israel with weapons.
Lammy explained that the assessment he received indicated a clear risk that some UK arms exports to Israel might be used to commit or facilitate serious breaches of international humanitarian law. He clarified that this suspension does not constitute an arms embargo and would not significantly affect Israel’s security. The UK government, he added, is not in a position to determine whether Israel has breached international humanitarian law. However, components for the F-35 fighter program will be excluded from this suspension unless they are destined directly for Israel, to avoid disrupting the global fleet.
Israel’s Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, expressed his disappointment over the UK’s decision, stating he was “deeply disheartened” by the sanctions on export licenses to Israel’s defense sector. Despite the UK providing less than 1% of Israel’s weapons and not being a state supplier, there has been mounting pressure on the Labour government—and previously the Conservative government—to reassess arms exports to Israel. The previous Conservative government had resisted halting arms sales to Israel, partly due to concerns about straining the UK’s relationship with the US, which is leading ceasefire negotiations.
In a related development, Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris recently told CNN that she does not plan to withhold certain arms shipments to Israel and prefers focusing on achieving a ceasefire.
The UK’s decision also follows the ruling party’s surprising losses in its landslide election victory two months ago, where Labour candidates in constituencies with large Muslim populations were ousted, partly due to Keir Starmer’s strong support for Israel during the Gaza conflict.
At the same time, Western allies, including the UK, are increasingly worried about Iran’s role in the conflict. The United Nations reported last week that Iran’s nuclear fuel levels had increased over the past three months, raising concerns about escalating regional tensions.
Labour Friends of Israel criticized the UK’s restrictions, arguing that they are unlikely to help resolve the conflict in Gaza and expressing concern that the move might embolden Israel’s adversaries, potentially leading to further escalation rather than de-escalation.
