Britain not reviewing Israel’s conduct in Lebanon for arms export decisions
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-government-admits-it-not-reviewing-israeli-conduct-lebanon-arms-exports
The UK government says there is “no legal requirement” to assess Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law in its military conduct in Lebanon as part of its decision-making on licensing UK arms exports to Israel.
Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said on Monday that the suspension of 30 arms export licences to Israel last month means there are “no existing UK arms licences to Israel for use in Lebanon” apart from UK-made F-35 fighter jet components.
“So there is no legal requirement to assess [international humanitarian law] compliance,” Falconer said in response to a written question from Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed.
Arms control experts and human rights advocates were surprised by the admission which several said appeared to show that the government had decided to forgo international law.
“Under its legal obligations, the UK government cannot refuse to do IHL assessments for any of its arms export licences,” Martin Butcher, policy adviser on arms and conflict for Oxfam told Middle East Eye.
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Israel continues to block aid into Gaza and is killing people fleeing in the north, UN officials warn
ISRAEL’S military continued to block humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza today, and reportedly killed people trying to flee Jabalia in the north, UN officials warned today.
The Israeli military (IDF) began blocking all supplies of food, medicine and fuel to the people under siege in northern Gaza on October 1.
On the 15th, the IDF allowed what the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said was “a token amount of aid” to enter, but since then nothing else has been allowed in.
The Israeli government has called on all civilians in the north to leave, but has continued to bomb the area, making escape just as dangerous for the Palestinians as staying in their destroyed homes.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said on social media today that humanitarian agencies must get access to north Gaza.
“Hospitals have been hit and are left without power, while injured people are left without care,” he said.
“UNRWA’s remaining shelters are so overcrowded, some displaced people are now forced to live in the toilets.
“According to reports, people attempting to flee are getting killed, their bodies left on the street. Missions to rescue people from under the rubble are also being denied.
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Labour remains complicit in Israel’s war crimes despite partial arms suspension, briefing reveals
LABOUR remains complicit in Israel’s war crimes despite imposing a partial arms suspension, a briefing from the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has revealed.
The government suspended 30 export licences to Israel out of about 350 last month.
But the briefing by CAAT highlights that crucial elements have been excluded, including components for F-35 combat aircraft.
F-35 components are exempt if not sent directly to Israel, despite evidence that they have been used in violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
On the same day the suspension was announced, Danish NGO Danwatch revealed that an F-35 was used to drop bombs in an attack on a “safe zone” on Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, killing 90 people.
CAAT warns this attack likely violated IHL.
Britain makes 15 per cent of all F-35s, with CAAT estimating the value of British components in the 39 planes delivered to Israel since 2016 at about £360 million — almost three times the value of other aircraft-related licences to Israel in the same period.
The F-35 is the largest and most important part of Britain’s arms trade with Israel and exports are made through an open licence, often excluded from media reporting as its financial value isn’t attached.
Freedom of information requests by CAAT revealed that the use of the Open General Export Licence for F-35 spare parts to Israel nearly tripled in 2023.
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Rebellion looks fun. Tower Bridge was shut yesterday by protestors associated with different groups including Youth Demand, Prayers for Gaza, Pal Pulse, Thanet for Palestine and Ealing Friends of Palestine. They demand that the UK Government stops arming Israel by imposing an arms embargo.
A spokesperson for Ealing Friends of Palestine said
“We took action in response to the horrifying images of civilians being burned alive, starved, and kept under siege — particularly in northern Gaza. We aim to cause as much disruption as possible to hit those in power where it hurts — financially. It is time for the UK government to stop arming this colonial regime.”