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UK suspends arms export licences to Israel over humanitarian law concerns

The UK has suspended some arms export licences to Israel, citing a “clear risk” they may violate international humanitarian law in Gaza. The move, affecting components for military aircraft, helicopters, and drones, marks a break from US policy and raises concerns over UK-Israel relations.

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In a move that could strain relations with the Biden administration, the United Kingdom has announced the suspension of several arms export licences to Israel, citing a “clear risk” that these arms could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. This decision marks a significant divergence from the tightly coordinated policy between the UK and the US regarding Israel.

The UK’s Foreign Office revealed that a two-month internal review raised concerns over Israel’s conduct in the ongoing Gaza conflict, particularly regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the obstruction of aid to Gaza.

Although no definitive conclusion has been reached on whether UK-exported arms contributed to the destruction in Gaza, the scale of the devastation and civilian casualties has prompted the UK to take this precautionary measure.

The suspension affects components for military aircraft, helicopters, drones, and targeting equipment, covering 30 out of 350 existing arms licences.

Notably, components related to the F-35 fighter jet programme are largely exempt due to their integration into a global supply chain controlled by the US, a point seen as a significant loophole by pro-Palestinian groups.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that this suspension is not a full arms embargo and does not match the level of previous suspensions, such as those imposed by Margaret Thatcher in 1982.

Lammy described the decision as one made “in sorrow rather than anger,” stressing that it does not amount to a judgment on Israel’s actions but is rather a forward-looking measure based on the potential risks involved.

Israeli officials reacted with dismay to the UK’s decision. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant expressed deep disappointment, emphasizing Israel’s need to defend itself against multiple threats, including those from Hamas, which recently executed six Israeli hostages.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also criticized the UK’s move, stating it sends a problematic message to Hamas and its backers in Iran. The decision comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting political pressure following a general strike and public outrage over his handling of the Gaza ceasefire terms.

In his address to the House of Commons, Lammy explained that the decision was driven by evidence concerning Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners and restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The UK’s legal advice indicated that Israel could have taken more reasonable measures to facilitate humanitarian access and distribution, and it criticized Israel’s restrictive approach to dual-use items and the insufficiency of aid provided to Gaza.

The suspension is expected to complicate the UK’s relationship with the US, where the Biden administration and some Republicans close to Donald Trump have resisted similar measures, arguing there is no basis under international humanitarian law for suspending arms exports to Israel. Biden has faced pressure from the pro-Palestinian wing of the Democratic Party to leverage arms sales to force Israeli concessions in ceasefire negotiations.

In Europe, only Belgium and Spain have imposed arms embargoes on Israel, while Germany has refrained from doing so.

The UK’s decision is also likely to influence domestic legal challenges, including an upcoming case brought by Global Legal Action Network and the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq.

The Labour Party’s annual conference may see heated debates over the suspension, but Lammy’s careful calibration of the decision could help him navigate the potential backlash.

British arms exports to Israel amounted to £42 million in 2022, a relatively small portion of the UK’s overall arms trade, but the political implications of this suspension are likely to resonate far beyond the financial impact.

The UK’s suspension of arms export licences to Israel comes amid escalating violence in Gaza, where the death toll has surged to 40,786, according to Gaza-based health authorities.

In the past 24 hours alone, 48 people were killed and 70 wounded by Israeli military actions, bringing the total number of injured to 94,224 since the conflict erupted in early October 2023.

The Israeli military’s large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip is in retaliation for a Hamas-led rampage on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,169 people by Hamas militants and Israeli security forces under the Hannibal directive, and the taking of around 250 hostages.

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UN agency for Palestine refugees reports six staff killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza school

An Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza has killed six UNRWA staff members. The Israeli military claimed the school was being used by Hamas for military purposes, while the UNRWA condemned the strike and called for the protection of civilian infrastructure.

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13 September 2024

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(Photo: X/UNRWA)

Six employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in central Gaza, the agency has reported.

The al-Jaouni school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which shelters thousands of displaced Palestinians, was struck on Wednesday (12 Sept).

Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported a total of 18 deaths in the attack.

Among those killed were the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other team members who were assisting displaced people.

The UNRWA stated that this was the highest single-incident death toll among its staff since the conflict began and revealed that this was the fifth time the school had been hit since the start of the war.

The school is home to approximately 12,000 displaced individuals, mainly women and children.

Since the beginning of the assault on 7 October, at least 220 UNRWA staff members have been killed in Gaza.

In response to the attack, the UNRWA condemned the strike, stating, “No one is safe in Gaza. No one is spared.”

The agency emphasized the need to protect schools and other civilian infrastructure, declaring, “They are not a target,” and reiterated its call for all parties to refrain from using schools or their surroundings for military purposes.

Israel’s military acknowledged responsibility for the airstrike, claiming it was a “precise strike on terrorists” who were allegedly operating from the school.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the strike targeted a Hamas command and control center embedded within the school.

The IDF also claimed that steps had been taken to minimize civilian harm, including using precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence gathering.

The IDF accused Hamas of systematically using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, in violation of international law.

They alleged that nine of those killed were members of Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, including three who also worked for the UNRWA.

Israel called on the UNRWA to provide details of the workers killed in the strike, claiming no response had been given.

In response, UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma stated that the Israeli military had not requested a list of the staff who were killed.

She also noted that the names published by the Israeli military had not previously been flagged to the agency by Israeli authorities.

Touma reiterated that UNRWA regularly shares staff lists with host governments, including Israel as the occupying power in Gaza.

Touma further emphasized that UNRWA had consistently called for independent investigations into claims that civilian infrastructure was being used for military purposes.

She said the agency could not independently verify whether the school was being used by Hamas.

UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the airstrike, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law.

“What’s happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (12 Sept).

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected Guterres’ remarks, defending Israel’s actions as part of a “just war against terrorism.”

The escalation of violence follows Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on 7 October, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and led to the abduction of 251 Israelis who were taken to Gaza as hostages.

Since the conflict began, more than 41,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including nearly 16,500 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

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International

Singaporeans to require Electronic Travel Authorisation for UK travel from 8 January 2025

From 8 January 2025, Singaporeans must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. The digital permit costs £10 (S$17), is valid for two years, and allows multiple visits of up to six months.

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13 September 2024

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From 8 January 2025, Singaporeans travelling to the United Kingdom will need to apply for and obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before their trip.

According to a UK government press release, tourists from Canada, the United States, and 47 other countries and territories will be required to obtain an ETA before entering the UK.

This new requirement is part of the UK’s border security measures aimed at enhancing security and deterring illegal immigration.

The ETA application costs £10 (S$17), and Singaporean travellers can submit their applications starting from 27 November 2024 via the official UK government website or mobile app.

Once approved, the ETA will be digitally linked to the applicant’s passport and will remain valid for two years, allowing multiple short stays of up to six months per visit.

Applications generally take about three days to process, and applicants will be notified by email if their request has been approved or rejected.

The ETA is mandatory for all modes of transport, including air, sea, and land, such as via the rail tunnel between Britain and France. It is also required for transit passengers who are changing planes at UK airports.

However, the UK ETA does not grant entry to the Republic of Ireland or other European nations.

By April 2025, this requirement will apply to all visitors who are currently able to travel to the UK without a visa, covering over 80 jurisdictions globally.

According to the UK ETA website, the introduction of this system aims to strengthen border security by preventing illegal immigration, combatting organised crime, and identifying potential threats to national security.

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