UK issued over 100 arms export licenses to 'Israel' since Oct. 7
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UK ministers have rejected calls to suspend arms exports to "Israel", claiming that their decisions were consistent with legal advice.
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Protesters hold up flags and placards during a demonstration in support of Palestinian people in Gaza, in London, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP)
The United Kingdom issued over 100 arms export licenses to "Israel" between October 7, 2023, and May 31, 2024, The Guardian reported, citing government data.
The figures show that, of the 108 licenses, 37 were for military use and 63 for non-military purposes, potentially including telecommunications equipment for the Israeli occupation forces. Additionally, eight open licenses were granted by the UK to "Israel".
Currently, there are 345 active licenses for arms sales to "Israel", including those issued before the start of the war on Gaza on October 7. The UK Department for Business and Trade released these figures in response to what it deemed exceptional parliamentary interest.
The data show that no arms export license applications were rejected or revoked during the war on Gaza. However, Emily Apple from the Campaign Against Arms Trade pointed out that the figures lack details on the value and specific categories of the licenses, information usually provided in the quarterly arms export licenses statistics.
In separate decisions made in December, April, and May, UK ministers rejected calls to suspend arms exports to "Israel", maintaining that their decisions were consistent with legal advice.
International bodies and UK campaign groups have argued that "Israel's" use of military equipment in Gaza, which has resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians, may violate international humanitarian law—the standard used by the UK to determine if arms export licenses should be suspended.
In 2022, the UK approved £42 million worth of arms export licenses to "Israel", with the 2023 figure expected to be published soon.
The UK Campaign Against The Arms Trade has estimated that since 2008, the UK has granted £574 million worth of arms export licenses to "Israel", excluding open licenses.
The statistics released on Tuesday do not specify the identities of the arms manufacturers or the detailed types of equipment exported.
The Guadian noted that this coincides with efforts by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to join a judicial review claim regarding arms sales to "Israel", initiated by the Global Legal Action Network and Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights group.
According to the news website, the case is set to be heard in early October, and it remains uncertain if a potential Labour government will oppose the claim or halt arms sales to "Israel".
"The right way to approach Israel’s commitment to comply with IHL [international humanitarian law] is not by reference to Israel’s subjective interpretation of its compliance with IHL, but by an objective interpretation of what IHL actually requires," indicated Yasmine Ahmed, the director of Human Rights Watch UK.
On his part, Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s chief executive, said his organization is "supporting this important case because of the UK’s refusal to abide by its international legal obligations and suspend arms transfers to Israel."
"There’s a mountain of evidence showing that Israeli forces are committing war crime after war crime in Gaza, going back well before last October," he added.
Read more: Pro-Palestine protesters force closure of UK arms factories
