Responding to the news that the UK will suspend some arms sales to Israel, Christian Aid's Head of Middle East Policy William Bell said:
“While this is progress, it does not go far enough. The only way to categorically ensure that arms sold to Israel are not used in violations of human rights is with a total ban. With the growing threat of this war escalating further, we need urgent steps to end the suffering and to build a world where Palestinians and Israelis are treated as equals.”
ENDS.
Notes to editors:
The UK Government has granted 20 companies arms export licences to Israel since the Hamas attack on 7 October, with more companies awaiting their applications to progress since 31 May. The information was acquired through freedom of information by the international development agency, Christian Aid. The charity, which supports partners in Gaza to provide humanitarian aid, says it condemns companies that “make profit from this war.”
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the department that issued the response, noted "a licence being granted does not mean that an export takes place...some licences may expire unused, and others may expire after only partial use.” The items and financial value of licences are exempt from disclosure but are published in the quarterly arms export licences statistics.
