UK Suspends 30 Arms Licenses, Germany Halts Exports to Israel Since March

The UK and Germany have recently taken significant steps regarding arms exports to Israel amid ongoing concerns about potential violations of international law. The UK has suspended 30 out of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing credible claims of mistreatment of detainees and the risk of items being used to violate international law in Gaza. This partial suspension, however, falls short of a complete arms embargo. Meanwhile, Germany has halted the approval of new arms exports to Israel since March 2024, including both offensive and defensive weapons, as it deals with legal challenges and public scrutiny over potential human rights violations. The German Economy Ministry has placed a hold on war weapons export permits to Israel while the country navigates these legal issues. Despite these measures, Germany continues to approve arms sales to other countries, such as Qatar.