Britain Freezes More Than 80 Licenses for Arms Exports to Israel

London - Afaq News - Britain has revealed that it is tightening its restrictions on arms exports to Israel, freezing more than 80 licenses for the export of military equipment that could be used by the Israeli army.

The British Minister for Middle Eastern Affairs, Stephen Doughty, stated that the authorities froze these licenses due to the possibility of the equipment being used in military operations in the Gaza Strip, noting that the new measures include what he described as a "double-lock mechanism" that prevents the approval of licenses that do not meet the required standards.

According to Doughty's statements reported by the British newspaper "Jewish Chronicle", the number of frozen licenses has now approached three times the number that was suspended when the restrictions began in September 2024, when about 30 licenses were frozen under former Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Doughty explained that he personally reviewed the relevant licenses, indicating that the new policy includes stricter conditions, including verifying the legality of the presence in areas where the equipment may be used, and the extent of compliance with the provisions of international humanitarian law.

In contrast, shipments related to the "F-35" fighter jet program have largely been excluded, citing national security considerations and Britain's commitments to its allies. Doughty defended the continued supply of spare parts for the aircraft, warning that halting them could "cause severe damage" to broader European security.

Approximately 50 new export licenses have been added to the list of frozen licenses, in a escalation of British measures regarding arms exports to Israel.

The British government had frozen about 30 licenses out of nearly 350 licenses for arms exports to Israel in September 2024. Lammy stated at the time that the decision "is not a ban on arms," clarifying that the restrictions primarily targeted military equipment that could potentially be used in offensive operations.

The new measures come amid rising criticism within the government and the British Labour Party regarding Israel's policy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband received a warm applause yesterday during the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, after a speech in which he spoke about what he described as "war crimes" in Gaza, strongly criticizing Israeli policy, and defending the British government's decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.