UK to suspend some arms sales to Israel, foreign secretary announces

The UK will suspend some arms sales to Israel, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced.

Mr Lammy said the decision follows a review of export licences for UK arms, which found there was a "clear risk" that they might be used to commit "a serious violation of international humanitarian law".

Around 30 of 350 licences will be suspended, Mr Lammy said, stressing that "this is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo".

He said: "Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government's legal duty to review Britain's export licences.

"It is with regret that I inform the House today the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain UK arms exports to Israel, there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law."

The government has been under pressure to take a tougher stance against Israel amid the war in Gaza.

The UK does not directly supply Israel with weapons, but does grant export licences for British companies to sell arms to the country.

Earlier in the year, under the previous Tory government, civil servants overseeing arms exports to Israel requested to "cease work immediately" over fears they could be complicit in war crimes in Gaza.

Mr Lammy told the Commons that after raising his own concerns while in opposition, he immediately launched a review upon taking office and "committed to sharing the review's conclusions".

"We have rigorously followed every stage of the process which the previous Conservative government established, and let me first be clear on the review's scope, this Government is not an international court.

"We have not and could not arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law.

"This is a forward looking evaluation, not a determination of innocence or guilt, and it does not prejudge any future determinations by the competent courts."

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.