Commons committee sets out 'concerns' over arms exports to Israel

The National

3 days ago

The International Development Committee sent an eight-page letter to Jonathan Reynolds and Foreign Secretary David Lammy over the decision to exempt components for F-35 fighter jets from suspended arms exports to Israel.
The committee raised fears that those weapons components could be used in attacks by Israel on aid workers and humanitarian infrastructure on Gaza.
Chair Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, wrote: 'As the Committee identified in its report, there are a number of avenues for accountability in response to violations of IHL (international humanitarian law), including the suspension of arms export licences.
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'I remain concerned that there is a real risk that weapon components, manufactured in the UK, could be used in attacks, including those on aid workers or humanitarian infrastructure.'
The MP noted that Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty previously claimed that stopping F-35 exports to Israel would require the 'entire programme' to be suspended as it is 'highly integrated'.
However, Champion insisted it was 'fundamental' that the UK Government adheres to international law.
'I am concerned by the decision to exempt F-35 components from the suspension of arms export licences, given your assessment that there are 'clear risks' of serious violations of IHL by Israel in Gaza,' she wrote.
The MP then noted the UK's obligations under the Genocide Convention, asking if ministers accepted that the duty to prevent genocide has been triggered.
She asked: 'If so, at what point was this duty triggered? If not, why not?'
Champion also noted the UK Government's obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which states that it is 'strictly prohibited' for a state transferring arms where the transfer would 'violate its relevant international obligations under international agreements to which it is a Party'.
Exports are also banned if the arms 'would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, attacks directed against civilian objects or civilians protected as such, or other war crimes,' Champion added.
The MP put several questions to ministers, including if it accepts exporting F-35 components is incompatible with its international legal obligations, and if it accepts Israel is using the components to commit war crimes.
Another question asks: 'What legal authority does the Government rely upon to support its position that a positive contribution to peace and security is to be balanced against a clear risk of the arms being used to commit serious violations of IHL/IHRL?'
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Champion asked the ministers to reply by July 11.
The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
It comes as a legal challenge over the UK's arms exports to Israel is currently underway.
We told in January how the Labour Government refused to review Israel's access to F-35 parts exported from the UK despite evidence that the planes have been used to bomb 'safe zones' in Gaza.
In September 2024, Labour blocked around 30 of 350 UK arms export licences to Israel after accepting that there existed a 'clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law'.
However, parts for F-35 fighter jets were specifically excluded – despite media confirmation that the jets had been used by Israel to bomb the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone in Gaza in July 2024.