Britain announces partial suspension of arms exports to Israel

LONDON: Britain announced on Monday that it would suspend 30 of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing a "clear risk" that they could be used in a serious violation of international humanitarian law. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the parliament that the partial ban included items "that could be used in the current conflict in Gaza", but did not include components for F-35 fighter jets. In April, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution calling for a halt to any arms sales to Israel in light of its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip, warning of the possibility of 'genocide' against the Palestinians. In June, a group of UN experts warned arms and ammunition manufacturing companies against participating in sending weapons to Israel, stressing that this could make them complicit in violations of human rights and international law. The group, which consists of 30 experts, including several UN special rapporteurs, stressed the need for manufacturing companies that supply Israel wi th military equipment to stop sending it "even if under valid export licenses." By supplying weapons, spare parts, components and ammunition to Israeli forces, these companies risk complicity in serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, the experts said in a statement. The Israeli occupation forces have continued their aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, killing 40,786 citizens, the majority of whom are women and children, and injuring 94,224 others, with thousands of victims still under the rubble and on the roads. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA