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Foreign Secretary David Cameron ruled out a moratorium on arms exports to Israel after seven aid workers, including three British nationals, were killed by an air force trike in Gaza last week.
During his visit to the US on Tuesday, he claimed to have considered the latest legal advice commissioned by the government on the issue and insisted the UK’s position on export licenses “has not changed”.
But Prime Minister Cameron insisted Britain still had “grave concerns” over humanitarian access to Gaza, adding that Israeli promises to “flood” aid to the region “need to be realized now”. There is,” he added.
The announcement comes amid growing calls for Britain to halt all arms exports to Israel due to the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip, with regional officials putting the current death toll at around 33,000. I’m giving estimates to people.
What are the rules surrounding UK arms exports?
Defense companies wishing to export weapons must obtain a license from the UK government and must adhere to strict export standards.
The standards were last revised in 2023, with Brexit cited as the main reason for the change, but the main focus of each standard remains largely unchanged.
Under this rule, arms export licenses may not be granted or may be revoked if:
- There is a clear risk that these items could be used to “commit or facilitate” domestic repression or serious violations of international humanitarian law.
- Collectively, these items pose a clear risk to national, regional or international peace and security.
- These items may be used to commit or facilitate offenses under international treaties and protocols to which the UK is a party.
Downing Street has refused to publish legal advice it has received on whether arms sales to Israel comply with these rules.
“We clearly recognize the interest in this issue and will always strive to be transparent about our decisions on these matters, respecting our long-standing practice of not publishing legal advice on these matters.” ” said the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson. Monday.
How many weapons does Britain send to Israel?
Since 2008, the UK has granted licenses worth £574m to companies exporting to Israel, according to data from the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).
Most of this total came from licenses granted in 2017, totaling £221m, including one license worth £182m.
In 2022, the UK issued 114 licenses to export military goods to Israel, with a value of £42m, according to recent government data.
But the government insists Britain’s contribution to Israel’s defense arsenals is “relatively small”, accounting for just 0.02% of the country’s arms imports.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), the United States is by far Israel’s largest foreign arms supplier, accounting for 65.6% of imports, followed by Germany at 29.7% and Italy at 4.7%. ing.
The US Senate also passed legislation in February allocating $14.1bn (£11bn) in additional defense funding for Israel, including $4bn ($4bn) for the country’s Iron Dome and David Sling missile defense systems. 31 billion pounds), including $801.4 million (631 million pounds) for ammunition. Procurement.
This is on top of the $3.8bn (£3bn) the US is giving Israel as part of a 10-year deal aimed at ensuring Israel has a “qualitative military advantage” over its neighbours. It is something that will be done.
Could Britain ban arms sales to Israel?
Britain has previously suspended arms sales to Israel amid the Gaza conflict, with some permits temporarily revoked between 2014 and 2015.
Following the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Gaza, the government announced that it had suspended 12 export licenses for equipment used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the ceasefire.
“In the event of a resumption of serious hostilities, the government is concerned that it will not be able to clarify whether the export licensing criteria have been met. It will therefore suspend these licenses as a precautionary measure,” the government said. stated in 2014.
The license was reinstated in July 2015, with ministers claiming that “sufficient information was obtained from a wide range of sources to apply standard export licensing procedures without further action.”
Several countries have already announced that they will halt arms sales to Israel, including Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain and Belgium.
The UN Human Rights Council also supported a ban on arms sales to Israel, with 28 countries in favor, six against, and 13 abstained.
Last week, 600 lawyers, including former Supreme Court justices, warned that the British government risked breaking international law by continuing to allow arms exports to Israel.
In a letter to the government, they said the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the International Court of Justice’s conclusion that there was a “plausible risk of genocide” had forced Britain to halt arms sales to the country. I warned you.
Signatories include former Chief Justice Lady Hale, former Supreme Court Justices Lord Sumption and Lord Wilson, nine other judges and 69 KCs.
Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Wednesday: I The government must take action now against Israel’s “inhumane” acts in war zones.
His call comes after several Conservative MPs, a former national security adviser and the Liberal Democrats called for a halt to arms exports to Israel, adding to the pressure on Rishi Sunak and Lord Cameron. .