The British government will suspend some 30 licenses, out of a total of 350, arms export to Israel because of the risk that they would be used for violate humanitarian lawannounced the British Foreign Secretary on Monday, David Lammy.
The decision was adopted after reviewing Israel’s compliance with international law during the war in Loopas the head of British diplomacy explained during an appearance before the House of Commons.
THE suspended licenses They will include, among other things, components of military aircraft, helicopters and drones after the British government concluded that there is a “clear risk that the items exported to Israel could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law”.
In his statement, the Labour politician said that “in the face of a dispute like this, the government has a legal obligation to review export licences”, while clarifying that the decision “is not a determination of innocence or guilt” and “it is not taken lightly.”
“Throughout my life I have been a friend of Israel. A liberal and progressive Zionist who believes in Israel as a democratic state and a land of Jews, which has both the right to exist and to defend itself,” Lammy defended.
“But I also think that Israel will only exist in security if there is a two-state solution which guarantees the rights of all Israeli citizens and their Palestinian neighbors, who have their own inalienable right to self-determination and security,” he added.
Lammy stressed that British government ‘not an international tribunal’ and “could not arbitrate on the question of whether Israel had violated international humanitarian law,” while specifying that the decision does not “prejudge any future decision by the competent courts.”
The minister also explained that the suspension of these 30 licenses for the export of “objects that could be used in the current conflict in Gaza” This is not an arms embargo.
The decision, which the British government will keep “under review”, will not, he said, have “a material impact on Israel’s security” because it only covers “objects that could be used in the current conflict”.
