UK Labour Government and Germany Suspend Arms Exports to Israel Since March 2024

Sep 18, 2024, 04:52 PM

The UK and Germany have both taken significant steps to limit arms exports to Israel amid ongoing concerns over the conflict in Gaza. The UK's new Labour government has suspended 30 out of its total 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing credible claims of mistreatment of detainees and the risk of violating international law. Despite this move, less than 1% of Israel's arms imports come from the UK, making the impact relatively minor. In contrast, Germany, which is the second-largest supplier of arms to Israel after the United States, has put a hold on new exports of weapons of war to Israel since March 2024. This decision comes amid legal challenges and concerns over potential violations of humanitarian law. Germany's halt includes both offensive and defensive arms, marking a significant reduction in its military support to Israel. The German Economy Ministry is closely involved in this decision.