Israel: Arms Trade

(asked on 28th November 2024) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will conduct a further review with Cabinet colleagues into the compatibility of the Government's export licences to Israel with its obligations under international humanitarian law in the context of recent civilian deaths in (a) Lebanon, (b) the West Bank and (c) Gaza; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Hamish Falconer Portrait
Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 30th December 2024

The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Cell undertakes regular assessments of Israel's commitment and capability to comply with International Humanitarian Law in order to meet our legal obligations under the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (SELC). On 2 September, following a conclusion that there is a clear risk that items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of IHL, we suspended relevant export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza. This is subject to the specific measures set out to Parliament excluding exports to the global F-35 programme from the scope of the suspension. We continue to keep all export licences under careful review and licences may be suspended, amended or revoked.

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