Great Britain London defends halt to arms export licenses

British Defence Secretary John Healey has defended the suspension of some licenses for arms exports to Israel. The decision will have "no significant impact on Israel's security", Healey told Times Radio.

Great Britain has a duty to obey the law. However, this does not change the "unshakeable commitment" to support Israel's right to self-defense.

The UK does not supply weapons directly to Israel, but has issued around 350 export licenses to British arms companies. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced on Monday that the government is now suspending 30 of these licenses. Parts for jets and drones are among those affected.

Lammy said that there was a risk that the deliveries could be misused for serious violations of international humanitarian law. The Conservative opposition and Jewish associations in the UK as well as the Israeli government criticized the move.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a "shameful decision" that would encourage the Islamist Hamas. "With or without British weapons, Israel will win this war", it said in a message on Platform X.

Israel is complying with international humanitarian law in the Gaza war and is taking "unprecedented measures to protect civilians from danger".

"Friends must tell the hardest truths."

Defense Minister Healey had informed his Israeli colleague Joav Galant prior to the decision. Galant had found the call "unwelcome", Healey said. "It's no surprise, but sometimes it's your closest friends who have to tell the hardest truths."

In documents presented by the government in London to justify its decision, it said: "Israel has failed in its duty as an occupying power to ensure that the population of Gaza is provided with the supplies necessary for its survival within the means available."

There were also "credible allegations of ill-treatment of detainees" and "on a scale and with a consistency" that suggested that at least some cases of ill-treatment were contrary to international humanitarian law, it continued.

SDA