UK considers further arms export restrictions on Israel amid Gaza conflict
A woman walks above the rubble of a building following an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on October 28, 2024, amid the ongoing war in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas. (AFP Photo)
The United Kingdom has not ruled out the possibility of further limiting arms exports to Israel in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, British officials stated on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, the UK’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, emphasized that while no additional steps were immediately planned, further restrictions remain “under consideration.”
The UK suspended 30 arms export licenses to Israel in early September after a review, according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The suspension is not a full embargo but represents a notable restriction. “This is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo,” Lammy said.
Currently, approximately 350 export licenses to Israel remain active, out of a total of 108 licenses issued since October 7, according to data from the UK’s Department for Business and Trade. Ambassador Woodward noted that the UK operates a “very carefully monitored and transparent program” of arms exports to Israel, a program that Israeli authorities reacted to “vociferously” following the recent cuts.
Amid escalating violence, Woodward described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “truly appalling,” affirming that the UK has intensified its aid to the region. “The provisions we took to suspend arms exports to Israel were part of a larger picture,” she stated, adding that the UK is calling for unimpeded access to aid in Gaza, alongside ceasefire efforts.
Woodward stressed that Foreign Secretary Lammy has been engaging at “the very highest levels” with Israeli authorities to expedite humanitarian assistance into Gaza, asserting that “there are no more excuses” for blocking aid.
While the UK does not directly supply Israel with arms, it does issue licenses that permit British companies to conduct arms sales to the country. Unlike the United States, which supplies arms to Israel directly, the UK’s approach centers on licensing and oversight of private sector exports.
The conflict, which was ignited by a Palestinian Hamas attack on October 7, has drawn international scrutiny, with the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire. According to local health authorities, the ongoing assault has resulted in over 43,200 Palestinian deaths and more than 101,800 injuries, predominantly among women and children.
