Photo: Depositphotos
Three British ministers responsible for arms exports are to be summoned for questioning by the Parliamentary Business Committee over concerns that loopholes in the UK’s partial arms ban on Israel may allow arms to flow to Gaza, possibly breaking government promises. The committee, chaired by Liam Byrne, summoned Trade Secretary Douglas Alexander, along with colleagues from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, to provide urgent explanations.
According to data released on Friday, in the fourth quarter of 2024 – following the introduction of a partial ban on arms exports to Israel by the Labour Party – the UK government approved licences for the supply of military equipment to Israel worth £127.6 million, exceeding the total amount for 2020-2023, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade.
During a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Labour’s independent MP Zara Sultana questioned the figures, to which Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he did not accept the figure and accused her of sensationalism. He assured MPs that “no weapons that can be used in Gaza are coming to Israel”. However, recent figures show that the government has issued licences worth more than £61 million for single-purpose military equipment whose end user is Israel. This includes licences for guidance systems, ammunition and parts for military aircraft.
In his letter, Byrne stressed that ministers had assured parliament that the ban covered “equipment that we assess is intended for use in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, including critical components for military aircraft such as fighter jets, helicopters and drones, as well as items that facilitate ground guidance”. He demanded an explanation for the increase in exports and the share of weapons supplied to the Israeli state. In addition, Byrne requested statistics on the number of licences in which Israel was excluded as an end user.
Last week, the High Court held a four-day trial into the legality of the UK’s indirect supply of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel, despite ministers’ acknowledgement that the parts could be used in aircraft used to bomb Gaza.
Meanwhile, Labour MPs and human rights organisations welcomed Lammy’s tougher rhetoric on Tuesday regarding the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, almost every Labour MP who spoke during the 90-minute session expressed anger that the government had only suspended negotiations on an enhanced free trade agreement with Israel, hinting at additional, as yet unspecified measures.
Source: The Guardian
