British Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced on Tuesday that the UK government would persist in sending weapons to Israel, dismissing calls to suspend exports amidst accusations of humanitarian violations in Gaza.
Cameron, during a visit to Washington, affirmed that the latest assessment prompted no change in the UK’s position on export licenses to Israel. He emphasized the UK’s adherence to a robust arms export control regime while expressing ongoing concerns about humanitarian access in Gaza.
The decision comes despite mounting pressure, including a recent letter signed by over 600 British lawyers, cautioning that such exports risk breaching international law. Britain’s strategic licensing criteria stipulates that weapons should not be exported when there is a “clear risk” of their use in violations of international humanitarian law.
Since 2015, the UK has approved over 487 million pounds ($614 million) of weapon sales to Israel through single-issue licenses, with additional exports facilitated under open licenses, according to arms control groups.
Meanwhile, the United States, the largest provider of weapons to Israel, has also resisted calls to halt shipments, despite growing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict.
The decision comes amidst heightened scrutiny following an Israeli strike that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers, including three Britons and one US-Canadian dual citizen, associated with World Central Kitchen.
As Britain and other key weapons exporters navigate these contentious decisions, concerns persist over compliance with international law and the potential consequences of arms transfers to conflict zones like Gaza.
