UK Foreign Secretary Denies Misleading Parliament Over Israel Arms Export

Strategic Insights -

David Lammy, the UK's Foreign Secretary, has denied misleading parliament over UK weapons exports to Israel despite a report suggesting that arms sales to the nation had continued even after he told MPs they had ended. The report, released last week, found that since September 2024, a total of 8630 items were received from the UK under the category "bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and similar munitions of war and parts thereof other".

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK Labour Government suspended around 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel in September 2024 amid concerns that they would be used to breach international law in Gaza.
  • Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs that the remaining licences were largely "defensive in nature" and related to exports that are "not what we describe routinely as arms".
  • A report published last week found that a total of 8630 items were received from the UK under the category "bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and similar munitions of war and parts thereof other" since September 2024.
  • The report also found shipments under a customs code identified as "tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, motorised, whether or not fitted with weapons, and parts of such vehicles".
  • More than 40 cross-party MPs signed a letter calling for the Foreign Secretary to answer to parliament about the allegations that he had "misled" the public and Commons.
  • The UK Government did not respond to the MPs' letter, leading to Lammy being challenged on the report to his face during Foreign Office questions at Westminster on Tuesday.
  • Independent MP Shockat Adam raised the UK Government's "failure to respond to the members' letter asking the Secretary of State to come to the house and make a statement on alarming research showing continued large-scale UK export of lethal weaponry to Israel".

Statistics:

  • 8630: The total number of items received from the UK under the category "bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and similar munitions of war and parts thereof other" since September 2024.
  • 350: The total number of arms export licences to Israel before the UK Labour Government suspended 30 of them in September 2024.
  • 60: The estimated number of children who have died of starvation in Gaza, with "many more" believed to have died due to lack of recorded data.
  • 10-11 months: The period since air-dropped aid was first provided into Gaza.
  • 10 weeks: The period for which Israel has banned any food, shelter, medicine, or other goods from entering the Palestinian territory.

Sources:

  • "UK to answer 'at The Hague' if it fails to stop arms sales to Israel, PM told" (original source not provided)
  • "David Lammy meets with top Israel minister on secret UK visit" (original source not provided)
  • "Gaza Freedom Flotilla issues SOS after alleged drone strike near Malta" (original source not provided)