Britain has made a big announcement amid the war between Israel and Hamas. Britain has imposed a partial ban on some weapons exported to Israel. Britain fears that the use of these weapons could lead to serious violations of international human rights laws.
Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy issued a statement in the House of Commons saying that the export licenses of 30 out of 350 weapons will be banned. However, it has been clarified that the sale of weapons will not be completely banned.
Britain’s ruling Labour Party government was under pressure to take a tough stand against Israel amid the war in Gaza. The Labour Party is in power since the elections to be held in July this year and they have taken this decision after coming to power.
Lammy told MPs that the government has a responsibility to review Britain’s export licences. “It is with great regret that I inform the House that the review has made it clear that Israel may in fact be using some of Britain’s weapons in serious violations of human rights laws.”
However, Britain does not directly supply arms to Israel. Instead, it gives export licences to certain British companies to sell arms to Israel. The UK government has taken this decision under the Strategic Export Licensing criteria, which are based on the risk of violation of humanitarian law.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)