Chief Rabbi attacks UK move on arms to Israel

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The UK’s Chief Rabbi has attacked the Labour government’s decision to suspend some export licences to Israel for arms used in military operations in Gaza.

The criticism by Sir Ephraim Mirvis came after Britain blocked about 30 licences for a range of items including components in military aircraft following a government review that found possible breaches of international humanitarian law by Israel.

“It beggars belief that the British government, a close strategic ally of Israel, has announced a partial suspension of arms licences, at a time when Israel is fighting a war for its very survival on seven fronts,” the Chief Rabbi wrote on X.

He added that the announcement by David Lammy, UK foreign secretary, “feeds the falsehood that Israel is in breach of international humanitarian law, when in fact it is going to extraordinary lengths to uphold it”.

But Lammy told the House of Commons on Monday he had concluded “with regret” there was a clear risk of some items exported to Israel being used in serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The decision marks a significant escalation in the pressure being placed on Israel by its western allies over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

Britain is the first major western ally of Israel to partially suspend arms sales to the country since the start of the war.

Lammy argued that the move by Sir Keir Starmer’s administration did not change the UK’s robust support for Israel’s security.

“The UK continues to support Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law,” he said.

But, responding on Tuesday morning, former prime minister Boris Johnson emphasised that Hamas was still holding Israeli hostages. “Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel?” he posted on X. “Do they want Hamas to win?”

Although the UK is not a big exporter of arms to Israel compared with the US or Germany, with British arms accounting for only about 1 per cent of Israeli imports, the decision will deal a significant diplomatic blow.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said he was “deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions placed by the UK government on export licences to Israel’s defence establishment”.

“This comes at a time when we fight a war on seven different fronts: a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organisation, unprovoked. At a time when we mourn six hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home,” Gallant said in a statement. 

The UK’s export criteria prevent licences from being issued if the items in question may be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The move will not affect components for the multinational F-35 joint striker fighter programme, except regarding parts sent directly to Israel.

UK officials determined that suspending critical components within a global pool of spare parts could harm the maintenance and operations of F-35s in other nations.

Licences for equipment used in trainer aircraft and naval equipment that is not being used in Gaza are unaffected, alongside licences for chemicals and telecommunications kit.

There are about 350 UK arms export licences to Israel currently granted. Britain’s suspension of around 30 of these licences will be kept under review, while any new licence applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The suspension covers licences for equipment that the UK assesses is for use by Israel in the conflict in Gaza, including components of military aircraft such as fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones. It also includes items that facilitate ground targeting.

The decision by the Labour government signals the latest shift in UK policy towards Israel and the 10-month war in Gaza since the party defeated the Conservatives in the general election in July.

Since taking office, Starmer has resumed funding to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, and dropped a proposed challenge to a request by the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant and leaders of Hamas.

The British government assessment examined compliance in three areas: humanitarian provision and access; treatment of Palestinian detainees; and the conduct of the military campaign.

The assessment judged there had been possible breaches of international humanitarian law by Israel in the first two categories, while finding a lack of sufficient verifiable evidence regarding the third.

British ministers have repeatedly called for Israel to bolster humanitarian access to Gaza and improve access to detainees amid allegations of abuse of Palestinian prisoners at the Sde Teiman jail.

The Israel-Hamas war was triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and led to another 250 being taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people, according to Palestinian officials, and led to UN warnings about the risk of famine and widespread disease in the besieged strip.

Lammy demanded a comprehensive review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law when he arrived in office about two months ago.

He was not permitted to see the legal advice provided to his predecessor, Lord David Cameron, which was kept confidential under legal privilege.

Lammy has travelled to Israel twice since being appointed foreign secretary.