Britain to partially halt arms sales to Israel

UK's Decision

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that the British government has decided to suspend certain arms sales to Israel following a review of export licenses, which revealed a "clear risk" that the weapons could be used in violation of international law.

"Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government's legal duty to review Britain's export licenses. This is not a blanket ban. This is not an arms embargo," Lammy stated.

According to Lammy, the suspension will affect about 30 out of 350 licenses.

It is noted that the UK does not directly supply weapons to Israel but grants export licenses to British companies for such sales.

Israel's response

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says he is "deeply disheartened" over the UK's decision to suspend some arms sales to his country.

"This comes at a time when we fight a war on seven different fronts — a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organization, unprovoked. At a time when we mourn six hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home," he emphasized.

Responding to the suspension of licenses, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel is "disappointed by a series of decisions made by the British government," including the one concerning the export of defense products.

He added that this move "sends a very problematic message" to Hamas and its backers in Iran.

It is worth recalling that in May, former UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Britain would halt the export of certain types of weapons to Israel if the IDF continued its full-scale invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.