NGO urges UK to impose a total ban on arms sales to Israel amid war on Gaza

London (Quds News Network)- Christian Aid has described the UK government’s decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel as “progress”, but said a “total ban” is the only way to “categorically ensure that arms sold to Israel are not used in violations of human rights.”

“The only way to categorically ensure that arms sold to Israel are not used in violations of human rights is with a total ban,” said William Bell, the head of Middle East Policy at Christian Aid.

“With the growing threat of this war escalating further, we need urgent steps to end the suffering and to build a world where Palestinians and Israelis are treated as equals.”

On Monday, the UK government announced the suspension of 30 arms export licenses to Israel, citing concerns over violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. The suspension, however, will not affect Israel’s ‘security’, according to the British government.

This decision comes after a comprehensive review conducted by the new Labour government, which raised alarms about the possible use of British-made weapons affecting Palestinian civilians.

The suspended licenses include components for military aircraft such as fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. However, the suspension does not extend to parts for the F-35 Joint Fighter Strike program unless those parts are specifically for aircraft used exclusively by Israel.

The Foreign Office’s review, which lasted two months, highlighted serious concerns regarding Israel’s conduct in Gaza, particularly in relation to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the disruption of humanitarian aid. Although the review did not definitively conclude that UK arms were directly involved in the destruction in Gaza, the sheer scale of the devastation and the high number of civilian casualties prompted the government to take what it described as precautionary measures.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that the suspension of arms licenses does not equate to a total ban on arms sales to Israel. He reiterated the UK’s commitment to Israel’s ‘right to self-defense under international law’, stating, “The action we are taking will not have a tangible impact on Israel’s security.”

Lammy also assured that the suspension is a targeted measure, not a broad policy shift away from supporting Israel’s security needs.

This recent move by the UK government may create tensions with the Biden administration in the United States, which has consistently supported Israel’s military actions, arguing that they do not violate international humanitarian law.