The UK Foreign Office has ordered a review of Israel’s use of British weapons in potential war crimes in Gaza, delaying any decision on an arms export ban to Israel until later this summer, as reported by the Times of London on July 30.
David Lammy, the new UK foreign secretary, faces pressure from Labour Party MPs to announce a total ban on arms exports to Israel. Speculation suggested a decision could be imminent, but the Times reports that the review process will take longer. Ministers are focusing on suspending export licenses only for specific weapons linked to suspected war crimes. Investigations are expected to take weeks, delaying the arms ban decision.
Since becoming an MP in 2000, Foreign Secretary Lammy has received £32,550 in donations from the pro-Israel lobby, as reported by Declassified earlier this year. Lammy supports the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) group, which promotes Israeli interests within the Labour Party.
Last week, the Labour government withdrew its objections to International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan submitting applications for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC prosecutor argues that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli army in Gaza since October last year.
The UK’s previous government, led by conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak, had submitted the objection, delaying the ICC’s decision on the arrest warrants. UK attorney general Richard Hermer KC visited Israel last week to explain the government’s decision to withdraw the objection. Hermer, who has family members in the Israeli army, signed a letter from leading Jewish lawyers warning Israel to comply with international law after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli military bases and settlements.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently ruled that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is illegal, Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian land must be dismantled, and foreign nations should not aid the occupation. However, the Foreign Office review will only consider whether British weapons are used to commit war crimes in Gaza, not their use in the West Bank.
Israeli forces have killed over 39,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. A separate ICJ case is ongoing to determine if Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
