LONDON: The UK’s Attorney General, Richard Hermer, has stated that a ban on weapons sales to Israel will not be considered unless it can be demonstrated that these weapons would be used to violate international law.
Hermer’s intervention comes in response to Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s announcement of a review into arms export licenses amid concerns that such weapons might be used in Gaza.
Lammy had suggested that “offensive” weapons would not be sold to Israel but indicated that “defensive” equipment could still be exported. The criteria for determining the classification of these weapons have proven challenging for Foreign Office officials.
Although Lammy was expected to update Parliament on changes to arms export licensing before the summer recess, this announcement has been delayed due to Hermer’s demand for substantial evidence that weapons could breach legal standards before making any decisions.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly also closely involved in the deliberations.
A source familiar with the situation told The Guardian, “International humanitarian law is not precise, but it requires us to consider all possibilities. The primary delay is due to legal considerations rather than diplomatic ones.”
Last week, the High Court in London received over 100 pages of evidence from lawyers concerning alleged Israeli crimes during its Gaza military campaign, including claims of torture.
The suggestion that British-made weapons might be used by Israel to breach international law has sparked controversy in Israel.
In the meantime, the UK government appears to have halted new arms export licenses to Israel while the review is underway. Businesses applying for these licenses have been informed by the Department for Business and Trade that applications are currently on hold.
The issue has also led to significant dissent, including the resignation of a UK diplomat based in the Republic of Ireland, who claimed that the UK government had sold weapons to Israel during what he described as “war crimes in plain sight.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson commented, “This government is committed to upholding international law. We have made it clear that we will not export items that could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The Foreign Secretary initiated an ongoing review process to assess Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law. We will provide an update once this review is completed.”
