But the decision will likely anger Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, just as Israel’s prime minister faces increased pressure from domestic protests and strikes.
In April, then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron, a Conservative former prime minister, announced that arms sales to Israel would not be suspended. But the fresh review under a new government has determined otherwise.
Export licensing criteria means Britain won’t issue export licenses if there’s a risk the items could be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Items facilitating ground targeting were also included, but absent from the suspension was components for F-35 stealth fighter jets — except where parts go directly to Israel. The majority of such parts go into a global pool and it was not deemed possible to bar those without denting the global fleet.
Licenses covering arms not being used by the Israel Defense Forces in the current conflict are not included in the suspension. These include training aircraft and naval equipment, as well as items for civilians, such as food testing chemicals and telecoms components.
British officials were keen to stress that they have not arbitrated on whether Israel has actually breached international humanitarian law, but instead the assessment found a “clear risk” of violations.
