In a recent statement, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has made it clear that the UK will not be following the US in withholding arms sales to Israel. Cameron emphasized that the UK’s position is not comparable to that of the US, as the UK is not a major state-to-state arms supplier to Israel.
The foreign secretary also reiterated the UK’s stance on the situation in Rafah, stating that the UK would not support a large-scale invasion unless there was a clear plan in place to protect civilians. This position has been reiterated by the UK for the past month.
While the UK does not have a significant supply of weapons to Israel, it does have a number of licenses for arms exports. However, these exports account for less than 1% of Israel’s total defense imports.
Cameron emphasized the importance of following strict licensing procedures and ensuring that arms sales do not contribute to a serious breach of international humanitarian law. He stated that the UK remains focused on improving the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and monitoring the situation closely.
The US president, Joe Biden, recently announced that the US would not be supplying arms for use in population centers, further highlighting the differing approaches between the US and the UK.
Overall, the UK’s position on arms sales to Israel remains unchanged, with a focus on ensuring that arms exports do not contribute to human rights violations. The next formal assessment of UK arms sales and the risk of a serious breach of international humanitarian law is imminent, with assessments conducted on a six-week cycle.