The British government, led by Foreign Secretary David Cameron, has decided to continue sending weapons to Israel despite calls to suspend exports due to alleged humanitarian violations in Gaza. The UK’s arms export control regime has not changed its position on export licenses, even though there are concerns about humanitarian access in Gaza.
The United States, the largest provider of weapons to Israel, has also refused to stop shipments despite growing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict. Seven aid workers, including three Britons and one US-Canadian dual citizen, were killed in an Israeli strike last week, which the military described as an accident.
Over 600 British lawyers, including former Supreme Court judges, have warned that exporting weapons to Israel may breach international law. Britain’s strategic licensing criteria prohibits the export of weapons when there is a “clear risk” they could be used in violations of international humanitarian law.
Germany, another key weapons exporter to Israel, is facing accusations in the International Court of Justice by Nicaragua for breaching the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention. Germany has defended its support of Israel as a core aspect of its foreign policy and rejected Nicaragua’s claims as a distortion of its record.
