The Office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has posted a thread on X slamming the UK government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel.
Citing a “clear risk” that they could be used in serious breaches of international humanitarian law, the UK announced that it will suspend 30 of 350 arms exports licences to Israel.
UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy told parliament that the partial ban covers items “which could be used in the current conflict in Gaza” against Hamas but did not include parts for F-35 fighter jets.
Reacting to the news, Netanyahu’s office said, “Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided decision will only embolden Hamas.”
“Israel is pursuing a just war with just means. Just as Britain’s heroic stand against the Nazis is seen today as having been vital in defending our common civilization, so too will history judge Israel’s stand against Hamas and Iran’s axis of terror.”
David Lammy
Meanwhile, HA Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, opined that the UK’s partial arms export suspension to Israel may open up an avenue for the US, Israel’s largest ally, to do the same.
“There are laws of this type in the United States but of course, politically, it’s a decision that the Biden administration has been unwilling to take,” Hellyer told a news agency.
“But the fact that its closest ally internationally, the United Kingdom, has taken this step is significant,” Hellyer added.
Hellyer noted that the UK’s move is not just political but a legal one as well.
Charities Call UK’s Move On Israel Arms Sales “The Bare Minimum”
Action for Humanity welcomed the UK’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel but said that the government needs to take further measures to end the war on Gaza.
Othman Moqbel, Chief Executive Officer for the group, said, “We are not celebrating this decision, because it is not a win, it is the bare minimum.”
He stated that UK suspending some arms sales and unfreezing funding to UNRWA are steps in the right direction.
“But they cannot distract from what is needed – an immediate and permanent end to the war,” he said.
“In addition, it is important this government takes international leadership on preventing further mass loss of life and make public statements indicating a policy shift – pressure the Israeli government to lift siege and blockade of Gaza and allocate more funding for humanitarian response caused by the attack on Gaza and denounce the de facto annexation of the vast swathes of the West Bank.”
Othman Moqbel
Christian Aid also described the UK government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel as “progress”, but said it did not go far enough.
William Bell, the Head of Middle East Policy at Christian Aid emphasized that the only way to “categorically ensure that arms sold to Israel are not used in violations of human rights is with a total ban.”
“With the growing threat of this war escalating further, we need urgent steps to end the suffering and to build a world where Palestinians and Israelis are treated as equals.”
William Bell
Additionally, Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey noted that the UK’s suspension of 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel will not threaten its ability to defend itself.
“It will not have a material impact on Israel’s security,” he was quoted as telling a news agency in reaction to the announced suspension.
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