The recent “UK Arms Sales Suspension to Israel” has sparked significant criticism and debate, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the move “shameful.” He thinks that instead of supporting Israel, which he calls a fellow democracy defending itself, the UK’s decision will only encourage Hamas.
This comes after UK Defence Secretary John Healey assured that the UK is still a strong ally of Israel. He mentioned that Israel’s security won’t be affected much since the UK is only suspending 30 out of 350 export licenses. The UK government said the weapons could be used in Gaza in ways that might break international law. However, Amnesty International UK believes these measures are “too limited.”
Some people are also upset about the timing of the announcement, as it happened on the same day as the funerals of six hostages killed by Hamas last week. Mr. Healey said it was “agonizing” to see the faces of the dead hostages but explained that the timing was based on legal reasons and the need to report to Parliament.
The UK decided to stop exporting certain parts like those used in fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. Mr. Healey explained that these items were selected because they could be used for “offensive purposes” in Gaza, while most of the other items the UK sells to Israel aren’t related to the conflict.
In comparison to other countries, the UK sells only a small percentage of Israel’s defense imports. For instance, the US is the largest supplier, accounting for 69% of Israel’s major arms imports between 2019 and 2023.
Amnesty International UK criticized the UK government, saying it’s just “gesture politics” because less than 10% of arms export licenses were suspended. The charity’s chief executive, Sacha Deshmukh, said the restrictions were “too limited” and had “loopholes.” He added that the UK’s decision implies it acknowledges that Israel might be committing war crimes in Gaza but still risks being involved in these crimes.
Despite this, Netanyahu responded on social media, stating that with or without British arms, Israel will win the war. He repeated that Britain’s decision will only help Hamas.
There’s been criticism within the UK as well. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson accused the government of “abandoning Israel,” but Mr. Healey insisted the UK would still support Israel if it faced a direct attack.
Labour Party member Emily Thornberry also called the timing “unfortunate” and suggested that the government might have acted quickly to inform Parliament once they received legal advice. She also mentioned that she expects a “detailed summary” of the legal advice given to the government about arms sales.
Meanwhile, MP Zarah Sultana, who was suspended from the Labour Party, called for an end to all arms sales to Israel, describing F35 jets as “the most lethal in the world.” Lord Peter Ricketts, a former national arms advisor, agreed that the UK’s decision was “long overdue,” pointing to evidence that obligations on civilian safety were not being met.
Israel has denied targeting civilians in Gaza, claiming its military actions are in response to Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on 7 October, where about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Since then, more than 40,000 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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