UK government under pressure to revoke licenses for the transfer of Israeli weapons.
UK government under pressure to revoke licenses for the transfer of Israeli weapons.
LONDON: After three Britons and four other people who were all employed by a food charity in Gaza were killed in an Israeli strike on Wednesday, April 3, the UK government came under increasing pressure to revoke its license to export weapons to Israel.
According to Britain's strategic licensing requirements, exporting weapons in situations where there is a "clear risk" that they will be used to violate international humanitarian law is prohibited.
According to arms control organizations, London has authorized approximately £487 million ($614 million) in weapon sales to Israel through "single issue licenses" since 2015, while businesses export more through open licenses.
According to arms control organizations, London has authorized approximately £487 million ($614 million) in weapon sales to Israel through "single issue licenses" since 2015, while businesses export more through open licenses.
They claim that part of this involves supplying vital parts valued at tens of millions of pounds for F-35 fighter jets manufactured in the US and supplied to Israel.
Two days after the Israeli strike that claimed the lives of seven employees of the US-based food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), two opposition parties in the UK and a number of individual parliamentarians demanded again on Wednesday that the government halt the exports.
Among them was Peter Ricketts, a former national security adviser for the United Kingdom who currently serves in the House of Lords, the country's unelected upper house.
He said to BBC radio, "I think it's time to send that signal."
Two days after the Israeli strike that claimed the lives of seven employees of the US-based food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), two opposition parties in the UK and a number of individual parliamentarians demanded again on Wednesday that the government halt the exports.
Among them was Peter Ricketts, a former national security adviser for the United Kingdom who currently serves in the House of Lords, the country's unelected upper house.
He said to BBC radio, "I think it's time to send that signal."
"ISRAEL HASN'T BEEN TAKING ENOUGH CARE"
Ricketts claimed that there was "abundant evidence now that Israel hasn't been taking enough care to fulfil its obligations on the safety of civilians".
The 43-MP Scottish National Party even called for the recall of parliament from its Easter recess so that lawmakers may discuss and take a vote on the matter.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, however, says London has a "careful export licensing regime" and is unfazed by the requests, saying as much on Wednesday in an interview with The Sun tabloid.
He said, "There are a set of rules, regulations and procedures that we'll always follow," but he did not elaborate on how they connected to Israel's recent actions.
There have been numerous requests for Foreign Secretary David Cameron to release internal legal advice regarding the arms exports from within his ministry. However, the Foreign Office has refused to comply thus far.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, however, says London has a "careful export licensing regime" and is unfazed by the requests, saying as much on Wednesday in an interview with The Sun tabloid.
He said, "There are a set of rules, regulations and procedures that we'll always follow," but he did not elaborate on how they connected to Israel's recent actions.
There have been numerous requests for Foreign Secretary David Cameron to release internal legal advice regarding the arms exports from within his ministry. However, the Foreign Office has refused to comply thus far.
Cameron would suggest that the Department for Business and Trade terminate the licenses in the event that it determined that there was now a demonstrable risk that the weaponry may be used by Israel in "a serious violation of international humanitarian law".
The government has been pushed to release the internal legal advice by the main Labour opposition, which is largely anticipated to win an election later this year and retake power for the first time since 2010.
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