UK to suspend 12 Israel arms export licenses if Gaza truce fails

Britain said it was reviewing arms export licences to Israel after fierce fighting which resulted in mass causalities.

LONDON: Britain said on Tuesday it would suspend 12 licences to export military items to Israel, including tank, aircraft and radar parts, if hostilities with Hamas in Gaza resumed, citing concerns the exports may be used to breach international laws.

Britain said last week it was reviewing all arms export licences to Israel after fierce fighting which has resulted in heavy civilian casualties in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

That review concluded on Tuesday that 12 licences would be temporarily suspended pending further investigation if the current truce breaks down and heavy fighting resumes.

"The UK government has not been able to clarify if the export licence criteria are being met," Business Secretary Vince Cable said in a statement.

"In light of that uncertainty, we have taken the decision to suspend these existing export licences in the event of a resumption of significant hostilities."

Israel says its operation in Gaza is self-defence, aimed at stopping rockets being fired from the enclave by Islamist militants.

According to a report by a British parliamentary committee last month, outstanding government-approved contracts for export of dual use or military goods to Israel are worth more than 7.8 billion pounds ($13 billion). These include contracts to supply body armour, drone components and missile parts.

Cable's department said the vast majority of export licences were not for items that could be used by Israeli forces in its operations in Gaza, but it was unable to immediately confirm the value of the licences that could be suspended.

Britain said that the suspensions would not include components for Israel's "Iron Dome" system which protects the country from rockets fired by Hamas.

Last week Sayeeda Warsi, a senior Foreign Office minister, resigned, accusing Prime Minister David Cameron's government of taking a "morally indefensible" approach on Gaza.

Warsi has welcomed the UK government's decision.

I welcome the #UK Governments decision to suspend 12 arms export licences to #Israel. How many licences re #Israel remain in place? #Gaza

— Sayeeda Warsi (@SayeedaWarsi) August 12, 2014