UK’s partial suspension of weapons to Israel ‘symbolically significant’: Analyst
HA Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, spoke to Al Jazeera earlier about the UK’s partial suspension of weapons exports to Israel:
“I think this is quite a symbolic move particularly considering the stance of the previous British government under the Conservatives. I think it follows a number of other moves that this new Labour government has taken over recent months,” Hellyer told Al Jazeera.
“It pulled back on the [UK’s] objections to the ICC [International Criminal Court] arrest warrants. It restored funding to UNRWA. And now you’ve seen this partial suspension of arms licences,” Hellyer said.
“I do say it is a partial suspension. It’s focused firstly on Gaza and also exempts parts that are meant for the F-35. The explanation from the British government being that this would interrupt the entire logistics chain for the F-35. So it is not complete by any means and it is not an arms embargo. It’s a suspension of certain licences,” he said.
“But I do think it is symbolically significant”.
‘Very comfortable with support we give to Israel,’ says British foreign secretary
David Lammy said he was comfortable with Britain’s military support for Israel following news that the UK will suspend 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel. Lammy was questioned in parliament by former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on what role Britain played in flying surveillance aircraft over Gaza and if the British army base in Cyprus was being used as a staging point for flights to Israel.
Corbyn posted the interaction on X in which he also asked the FM what effect the suspension of some arms contracts with Israel will have on its ability to “continue the bombardment of Gaza”.
Lammy responded by saying that British arms exports amount to about 1 percent and that the US, Germany and others are more “engaged” in sending arms to Israel. Lammy added that he would not comment on “operational issues”.
I asked the Foreign Secretary what role Britain has played in flying surveillance aircraft over Gaza, and whether the British army base in Cyprus is being used as a staging point for flights to Israel.
He refused to answer. pic.twitter.com/g5fMy0W2NQ
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) September 2, 2024
Charity says UK’s move on Israel arms sales ‘doesn’t go far enough’
Action for Humanity welcomed the UK’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel, but said the government needs to take further measures to end the war on Gaza.
“We are not celebrating this decision, because it is not a win, it is the bare minimum,” said Othman Moqbel, chief executive officer for the group.
“By suspending some arms sales and unfreezing funding to UNRWA, these are steps in the right direction, but they cannot distract from what is needed – an immediate and permanent end to the war,” he said.
“In addition, it is important this government takes international leadership on preventing further mass loss of life and make public statements indicating a policy shift – pressure the Israeli government to lift siege and blockade of Gaza and allocate more funding for humanitarian response caused by the attack on Gaza and denounce the de facto annexation of the vast swathes of the West Bank.”
UK export licence suspension won’t have ‘material’ effect on Israel
Secretary of State for Defence John Healey says the UK’s suspension of 30 of its 350 arms export licences to Israel will not threaten its ability to defend itself. “It will not have a material impact on Israel’s security,” he told Times Radio on Tuesday, a day after the suspension was announced.
NGO urges UK to impose a total ban on arms sales to Israel
Christian Aid has described the UK government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel as “progress”, but said it did not go far enough.
“The only way to categorically ensure that arms sold to Israel are not used in violations of human rights is with a total ban,” said William Bell, the head of Middle East Policy at Christian Aid.
“With the growing threat of this war escalating further, we need urgent steps to end the suffering and to build a world where Palestinians and Israelis are treated as equals.”
Netanyahu’s office says UK arms suspension will ‘only embolden Hamas’
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has posted a thread on X slamming the UK government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel.
“Instead of standing with Israel, a fellow democracy defending itself against barbarism, Britain’s misguided decision will only embolden Hamas,” it said.
“Israel is pursuing a just war with just means. Just as Britain’s heroic stand against the Nazis is seen today as having been vital in defending our common civilization, so too will history judge Israel’s stand against Hamas and Iran’s axis of terror.”
