Israel 'furious' after UK suspends arms export licences as it warns of 'problematic' message it sends to the world

3 September 2024, 07:08

Israel is 'furious' after the UK announced plans to suspend around 30 arms export licences
Israel is 'furious' after the UK announced plans to suspend around 30 arms export licences. Picture: Alamy/Getty

By Emma Soteriou

Israel is 'furious' after the UK announced plans to halt arms export licences, warning of the "signal it sends to the world".

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that the UK is suspending around 30 export licenses for arms and military equipment, out of a total of 350.

This will affect equipment like military aircraft, helicopters and drones, he told MPs on Monday afternoon.

Mr Lammy explained that there was a "clear risk" that the sales could result in arms being used in a way that could breach international law.

But Israel is said to be both "disappointed" and "furious" about the decision.

Defence minister Yoav Gallant said he was "deeply disheartened" by what he described as "sanctions placed by the UK Government on export licenses to Israel's defence establishment".

Foreign minister Israel Katz said the move sent a “very problematic” message to Hamas and Iran.

“Israel is disappointed by the series of recent decisions made by the British government, including the latest decision on defence exports to Israel, its decision to withdraw its request to submit a friendly position to the ICC, and its position regarding UNRWA, as well as the recent British conduct and statements in the UN Security Council,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, another senior Israeli official told The Telegraph that Israel is “furious” and the UK should think about the “signal it sends to the world” following Hamas' execution of six hostages.

Read more: UK to suspend some arms sales to Israel as exports 'risk breaching international law', Foreign Secretary says

Read more: Israeli hostage's father tells LBC Benjamin Netanyahu must 'negotiate with Satan' to bring hostages home

The announcement also saw a mixed response in the UK, with former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps telling LBC's Andrew Marr that the suspension was akin to "student politics".

However, some MPs on the left of Labour and some charity leaders, called for ministers to go further.

Mr Shapps told LBC that the suspension was a "gut punch" and amounted to "punishing" Israel for being attacked by Hamas.

Grant Shapps reacts to David Lammy's partial arms ban on Israel

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the war in Gaza that followed the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.

But Mr Shapps said the decision was "a very retrograde step".

"This is not some sort of student politics now, where you carry out student bans on different things, this is now geopolitics," he said.

"This is about making sure that when a terrorist group attacks a democratic nation, the answer isn't to start punishing the democratic nation for that attack.”

Mr Shapps said that the move "shows the student politics nature of David Lammy". He added that the suspension "will do nothing, because we sell almost nothing. 10% of almost nothing is nothing but gesture politics."

He said that to Israel "to will feel like a punch in the guts from an ally, and a friend."

But Simon McDonald, the former ambassador to Israel and the former top civil servant in the Foreign Office, told Andrew that the suspension was "a bit overdue."

While some have criticised the decision to partially halt the sale of arms, voices to the left of the Labour government have called for it to go further.

David Lammy
David Lammy. Picture: Alamy

MP Zarah Sultana said: “When Israel is carrying out a genocidal assault in Gaza, we shouldn't just ban a small fraction of arms licences to Israel.

“This ban still allows the UK to sell parts for F-35 fighter jets, known as 'the most lethal' in the world.

“The government needs to ban ALL arms sales.”

Green MP Ellie Chowns said the suspension is a "welcome and significant step, but leaves vital questions unanswered."

She added there is "no justification at all" for continuing to license F-35 fighter jets to Israel.

"There is an ongoing and clear risk and we urge the foreign secretary to look again and suspend these licences," she said.

Meanwhile, the DUP's Sammy Wilson said the decision will leave “Hamas terrorists..overjoyed.”

Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps
Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. Picture: Alamy

"This is a bad decision. It's a decision which we will come to live to regret, and it's one which unfortunately I believe has been a result of... pressure which Labour MPs have found in their seats, as a result of pro-Gaza protests," he said.

Last year British companies sold around £42 million worth of military equipment to Israel, a relatively small amount.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Lammy said: "This is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo."

Ministers have been under pressure to suspend arms exports to Israel for some time, with some protesters claiming that Britain is indirectly complicit in the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Gaza.

Mr Lammy told the Commons: "Facing a conflict such as this, it is this Government's legal duty to review export licences. Criteria 2C of the strategic export licensing criteria states that the Government will not issue export licences if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.

"It is with regret that I inform the House today the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain UK arms exports to Israel, there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

"I have informed (Jonathan Reynolds) the Business and Trade secretary, and he is therefore today announcing the suspension of around 30 from a total of approximately 350 to Israel, as required under the export controls act. These include equipment that we assess is for use in the current conflict in Gaza."

British Foreign Minister David Lammy has confirmed the partial suspension of arms sales to Israel
British Foreign Minister David Lammy has confirmed the partial suspension of arms sales to Israel. Picture: Getty

Mr Lammy said that the suspension of some arms exports "not a determination of innocence or guilt".

He told MPs: "Throughout my life, I have been a friend of Israel. A liberal, progressive Zionist who believes in Israel as a democratic state and a homeland for the Jewish people, which has both the right to exist and defend itself.

"But I believe also that Israel will only exist in safety and security if there is a two-state solution that guarantees the rights of all Israeli citizens and their Palestinian neighbours, who have their own inalienable right to self determination and security.

"As concern that the horrifying scenes in Gaza has risen, many in this House, as well as esteemed lawyers and international organisations have raised British arms export licensing to Israel.

"After raising my own concerns from opposition, on taking office, I immediately sought to update the review, and on my first appearance as Foreign secretary in this House, I committed to sharing the review's conclusions.

"We have rigorously followed every stage of the process which the previous Conservative government established, and let me first be clear on the review's scope, this Government is not an international court.

"We have not and could not arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law. This is a forward looking evaluation, not a determination of innocence or guilt, and it does not prejudge any future determinations by the competent courts."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Former head of the diplomatic service Lord Simon McDonald stressed to LBC's Andrew Marr that NATO 'couldn't force the UK to do anything'.

Former Foreign Office head tells LBC NATO ‘can't force UK to do anything’ but warns of ‘painful cuts’ in spending review

The 46-year-old, who has twice won a national bravery award, then slammed the teenager to the ground and placed his hand over the boy’s face while shouting threats and curse words

Shocking footage shows bravery award-winning officer slam teen armed with knife to ground before being sacked

On March 20, 2022, hundreds of protesters attended a rally in front of Hackney Town Hall, London, United Kingdom, to demonstrate their support for Child Q.

Black schoolgirl was ‘demeaned’ and felt ‘physically violated’ after police strip search while on her period

Sunny Jacobs

Exonerated US death row inmate turned campaigner dies in Irish house fire

Commander Julian Bennett outside a Metropolitan Police misconduct hearing at Palestra House, south east London.

Senior Met officer sacked for second time over refusing drugs test

Just before midnight, after major broadcasters projected that Lee Jae-myung would win the presidency, he made his first public appearance with his wife, Kim Hye-Kyung, in front of the National Assembly to greet his supporters.

South Korea opposition Lee Jae-myung wins election following months of martial law chaos

Police officers cover with an inflatable tent, behind a firefighter vehicle, the tents delimiting the scene of an incident in Water Street.

Four people injured in Liverpool parade can be named as restrictions lifted after horror crash

Search teams look through a derelict and abandoned property to the west of Praia De Luz, Portugal in the search for Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine McCann detectives drain well as police look for toys and DNA in renewed search

Sir Tony Blair spoke at the SXSW festival in London and said Britain needs to embrace AI.

Tony Blair says Britain should have AI doctors and nurses as former PM claims it's 'absurd' not to do more in the NHS

Pipers at the statue to Robert The Bruce during a re-enactment to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle Of Bannockburn.

Controversial trotting track development at historic Bannockburn battlefield site dismissed

Ukraine’s underwater explosion attack on Crimean Bridge caught on camera

Ukraine’s underwater explosion attack on Crimean Bridge caught on camera

Dutch PM Dick Schoof steps down and far-right leader Geert Wilders quits as Dutch government plunged into chaos

Dutch PM Dick Schoof steps down and far-right leader Geert Wilders quits as Dutch government plunged into chaos

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia

Six things you need to know about Alzheimers - as drug trials bring new hope

Police on duty outside Windsor Castle (file image)

Man in his 30s arrested after breaking into grounds at Windsor Castle

Erin Patterson has admitted feeding poison mushrooms to her relatives

'Toxic mushroom' mum Erin Patterson admits feeding death caps to her relatives but denies murder

Will I am, LeAnn Rimes, Tom Jones, Danny Jones, and Tom Fletcher as judges on The Voice UK last year.

The Voice UK coaching line-up revealed with US star replacing country singer LeAnn Rimes