The British government is confronted with new criticism about allowing weapons that can be exported from the UK to Israel, because the country’s safety cabinet approves plans to increase its offensive on Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says that the Israeli defense (IDF) will take over ‘complete control’ from Gaza City while offering humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the battle zones.
The plan marks a new escalation in the almost two -year offensive that has seen or displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, because those who remain further are pushed further into an worsening famine.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticized Israel’s decision to “escalate his offensive, adding:” This action will do nothing to put an end to this conflict or to help ensure the release of the hostages. It will only yield more bloodshed. ‘
Responding to the plans, campaigners and opposition members have called on the government to order a complete suspension of British weapons to Israel, instead of the partial that is currently present.
Lib DEM -leader Ed Davey said: “Instead of sitting on hands and to issue highly formulated statements, the British government must take decisive action. Keir Starmer must stop exports from all British weapons to Israel – and punishes Netanyahu and his cabinet.”
Former national security adviser Lord Ricketts, however, defended the tackling of the government, with the argument that the current partial weapon suspension means that it has “taken the most available steps”.
“The real hard truth is that there is almost nothing that the British government can do that Netanyahu and his calculations will influence what to do in Gaza,” he added.
Here is everything you need to know about the British arms export to Israel:
How many weapons does the UK export to Israel?
The latest export license figures released in May show that the VK has approved £ 127 million in military equipment to Israel in licenses with one edition between October and December 2024.
This was more than the total amount of the export from 2020 to 2023, which was combined £ 114 million, according to the campaign against arms trade (Caat).
Exports also came in the three months after Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lammy had announced a partial suspension of weapon performance about ensuring that they could be used in violation of international humanitarian law. This suspends 30 licenses from approximately 350.
From 2015 to 2024, the total value of the military export from the UK to Israel is £ 504 million. Caat, however, points out that since 2023 the British government has stored around 15 percent of export data in a confidential system.
This consisted of 1,325 ‘Standard’ licenses – with 150 including military radar equipment, 92 including components of targeting equipment and 55 including submarine components.
The figure excludes the 71 ‘Open’ licenses, which do not limit the quantity or value of exports.
The Cate says that sources in the UK also supply Israel up to 15 percent of the value of their F-35 aircraft used in air strikes.
Although the direct export of these F-35 components is included in the partial suspension of the government, it will continue to ensure that parts from the UK will later be sold to Israel, despite accusations that the aircraft is used to violate human rights in Gaza.
Mr Lammy defended the exemption: “The worldwide F-35-Supply Chain is vital for the safety of the UK, our allies and NATO.”
The government was brought to court in May about the carve-out by the human rights group Al-Haq, but the case was thrown away by the Supreme Court in June.
A government spokesperson said: “As on the way to parliament in September, we have suspended permits for the IDF that can be used in military operations in Gaza, based on our assessment that they can be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.
“It is currently not possible to suspend the licenses of F-35 components for use by Israel without harming the entire Global F-35 program, which would have serious consequences for international peace and safety due to the crucial strategic role in defending NATO and other British allies.
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