AP and The Independent

The newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, September 3, 2024, p. 21

London. Britain has suspended 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel over the clear risk that they could be used to violate international humanitarian law, in relation to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the provision of aid to Gaza. The decision caused disappointment in Tel Aviv, according to statements by Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the suspended equipment included parts for military aircraft and drones, as well as items used for ground attacks. He added that Israel had the right to defend itself but was not satisfied with the responses after raising concerns with Tel Aviv officials.

Israel is disappointed by several recent decisions taken by the British government, including the latest one, on the export of military productsKatz said. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shared on X his deep discouragement about it.

British companies sell a relatively small amount of arms and components to Israel. Earlier this year, such exports amounted to $53 million.

London is one of Tel Aviv’s closest allies, so the decision has symbolic significance.

The center-left Labour government, elected in July in Britain, is facing pressure from within its ranks to push Israel to end the violence. In the election, the party lost several seats when its leader and current prime minister, Keir Starmer, refused to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In July, Starmer’s government said the UK would not intervene in a request by prosecutors to the International Criminal Court to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; it also restored funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which was suspended by his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, following allegations that several of its 8,000 employees took part in the Hamas raid in Israel on 7 October.