The Times Reports on Gaza Conflict in the United States, Germany, Italy and Japan. Is the U.K. Bound on Security Forces?

Several countries, including Canada, Spain, Belgium, Italy and the Dutch, have stopped arms exports to Israel in recent months due to concern over Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

The U.K. has a suspension of arms exports that is too limited and prone to loopholes, according toAmnesty International. Human Rights Watch said it “doesn’t go far enough.”

The United States and Germany are Israel’s biggest weapons suppliers. The U.K.’s defense exports to Israel have fallen from approximately $55 million in 2022 to about $24 million in 2023 according to government figures.

There is a significant increase in the British pressure on Israel to curb the deaths of civilians in Gaza. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, including women and children, the Gazan health ministry said in August.

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The United Kingdom’s refusal of arms exports to Israel and its refusal to challenge the International Criminal Court’s request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant

On Tuesday, when pressed on the Biden administration’s opinion of the U.K.’s arms suspension, the State Department’s Miller said, “It’s of course appropriate for them to make their own legal judgements based on their system and their laws.”

No challenge was filed to the International Criminal Court’s request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant. With the U.S. not a signatory to that court, its ally Britain had pledged — under Starmer’s predecessor Rishi Sunak — to file legal paperwork challenging those warrants.

The new prime minister, Keir Starmer, is a former human rights lawyer and prosecutor. He’s been under pressure from some of his own supporters to speak out about rising civilian death tolls in Gaza, and to condemn Israel more forcefully.

Within weeks of taking office, Starmer’s government said it was restarting funding for UNRWA, the main United Nations relief agency for the Palestinians.

The U.K. has long been in lock step with its ally Washington on Israel policy. The new center-left British government has indicated that it might take a more independent approach.

Fallon says that she is reassured by all the people who have gone on a march,emailed their Member of Parliament and worked on this nonstop for the last year. The U.K. decision is seen by her as a partial victory.

Source: 5 things to know about the U.K.’s suspension of some arms exports to Israel

5 things to know about the U.K. suspension of some arms exports to Israel after the Hamas attack: Israel is failing on humanitarian aid in Gaza

The back of the plane, including the release mechanisms for the bombs, is one of the parts that is included in that.

Lammy announced an exemption for components of the F-35 fighter jets, which Israel has used in bombing Gaza. About 15% of those components are made in Britain, according to advocacy groups.

On Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that British officials had notified their U.S. counterparts about the suspension ahead of Lammy’s announcement in Parliament.

Benjamin Netanyahu made a sarcastic comment on social media about Britain’s action, saying it would not deter Israel from pursuing a just war with just means.

The new center-left government published a policy paper late Monday explaining its decision. Israel is failing on humanitarian aid in Gaza and treatment of prisoners, it was concluded.

The Conservative-led government commissioned a legal review of U.K. arms exports to Israel after losing power in July. Before it left office, it didn’t release the findings of its review.

He said that a legal review found there was a clear risk that certain U.K. arms exports to Israel would be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Israel does not deny it broke any laws.

As the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack approaches, and the death toll in Gaza mounts, the British government is one of several around the world that are expressing increasing alarm at how the war is being conducted.

Source: 5 things to know about the U.K.’s suspension of some arms exports to Israel

Partial suspension of arms production in the early 20th century is not an option for a secure future for Israel – Comment on the Defence Secretary John Healey

John Healey, Britain’s Defense Secretary, said Tuesday that Israel’s security will not be impacted by the partial suspension of arms exports.