UK Immediately Suspends 30 Arms Export Licenses to Israel Over Legal Concerns

Sep 2, 2024, 03:39 PM

The UK government, led by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, has announced the immediate suspension of 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel. This decision follows an internal review that identified a clear risk that UK-manufactured weapons could be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The suspension includes components for military aircraft and drones. Lammy emphasized that this is not a blanket ban or an arms embargo, but a targeted suspension based on legal obligations to prevent the potential misuse of exported arms.