UK suspends some arms sales to Israel over possible violations of humanitarian law

The United Kingdom announced on Monday that it had suspended the export of some weapons to Israel over the concern that they could be used in Gaza in violation of international law.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the determination to suspend around 30 of the 350 export licenses came after a review found “there exists a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.”

The types of items that have been suspended include important components for military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, drones, and other technology that facilitates ground targeting.

The U.K., like the United States and many of Israel's allies, has repeatedly urged Israel to do more to prevent civilian casualties, their displacement, and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The death toll through nearly 11 months of war is around 40,000, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but more than half of the deaths are believed to be civilians.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he was "deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions."

"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 said. "I stand by our troops and security agencies working with immense courage, professionalism, and moral values. We remain committed to defending the state of Israel and her people."

The U.K.'s decision to impose the pause on certain weapons is a step further than what the Biden administration has been willing to do to push the Israelis to adhere more closely to its requests. The administration did suspend two shipments of large bombs that it believed would be used in Rafah, an area of southern Gaza where a majority of Palestinians had fled to, and would incur significant numbers of civilian casualties.

The U.S. ultimately provided Israel with a package of the smaller of the two types of bombs.

Israel's war in Gaza, which began with Hamas's Oct. 7 attack in Israel that left roughly 1,200 Israelis dead and 250 people kidnapped, has resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Hamas officials inside and outside of Gaza. It has also decimated Gazan infrastructure and displaced an overwhelming percentage of Palestinians.

Leaders from across the globe have called on Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire to end the war, release the Israeli hostages, and provide desperately needed aid to Palestinians, but they have not come to an agreement for several months.

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Thousands of Israelis protested this weekend urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire deal that would free the remaining 100 or so hostages after Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six hostages believed to be killed only hours earlier.

President Joe Biden indicated on Monday he does not believe Netanyahu is doing enough to secure a deal.