Israel: Arms Exports

Lord Grocott Excerpts

Tuesday 25th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

As I have made clear, our assessment was that there was a clear risk that there would be serious violations of international humanitarian law, so my noble friend was correct in her decision. The strategic export licensing criteria are cumulative, in that before a licence can be issued it must comply with all the criteria. Criterion 5 of the SELC is a separate criterion that allows the Government to weigh national security concerns when considering whether to license an export, and as such provides a discretionary basis on which to refuse exports. There is no scope to balance criterion 2(c) on international humanitarian issues against criterion 5.

[Lord Grocott (Lab)]

My Lords, is it not a fact that we all know and can agree on that, during the course of the war in Gaza, schools, hospitals and aid convoys have been attacked, and families have been attacked in areas that the Israel Defense Forces has declared as being safe to go to? Rather than looking at the intricacies of legal arguments, is it not an absolutely clear fact, bearing in mind the proportionality principle of international humanitarian law, that it would be an astonishing argument to say that there have been no violations of international humanitarian law?

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for raising those issues. We strongly oppose Israel’s resumption of hostilities and urgently want to see a return to a ceasefire. More bloodshed is in no one’s interest. The reported civilian casualties resulting from the recent strikes are appalling and we urge all parties to return urgently to talks, implement the ceasefire agreement in full and work towards a permanent peace. For the sake of the remaining hostages and their loved ones, for the people of Gaza and for the future of two peoples who have suffered so much for so long, we will continue to strive for a return to the path of peace.