UK defends partial Israel arms ban as Netanyahu calls it 'shameful'

Summary

UK Defence Secretary John Healey tells the BBC the suspension of 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel "won't have a material impact" on the country's security
He defends the timing of the move, saying it was "agonising" to hear six Israeli hostages had died in Gaza but adds the announcement - which came on the same day as their funerals - was driven by a "legal process"
Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu calls it "shameful" and says "Britain’s misguided decision will only embolden Hamas"
The Palestinian Mission to the UK welcomed the decision - the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 40,000 people have died there since Israel began its military operation, which was triggered by Hamas's deadly attack on Israel on 7 October
Former national security adviser Lord Peter Ricketts says the suspension is "long overdue" but it won't change Israeli PM Netanyahu's mind on the war
The US is the biggest arms supplier to Israel and UK arms sales amount to 1% of the country’s defence imports

Live Reporting

Edited by Emily Atkinson

Six key things to know about the UK arms suspensionpublished at 07:31 British Summer Time 3 September
Image source, Reuters
- The suspension applies to 30 out of 350 arms export licences
- Included are parts for some fighter jets, helicopters and drones
- Parts made in the UK for the F35 fighter jets - that Israel is using to strike targets in Gaza - will not be included in the ban as the planes are manufactured as part of a global programme
- Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there is a "clear risk" equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international law
- UK arms sales to Israel amount to 1% of Israel's defence imports - the US is the biggest supplier, accounting for 69% of its imports
- The government has not announced an end date to the suspension, saying the decision would be kept under review
Does the UK government want Hamas to win, Johnson askspublished at 07:20 British Summer Time 3 September
Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent
Image source, Reuters
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has questioned whether the government “want Hamas to win” following the decision to suspend some arms export licences to Israel.
Johnson writes on X: “Hamas is still holding many innocent Jewish hostages while Israel tries to prevent a repeat of 7 October massacre.
"Why are Lammy and Starmer abandoning Israel? Do they want Hamas to win?”
Government sets out more Israel-sceptic posturepublished at 07:17 British Summer Time 3 September
Chris Mason
Political editor
It felt like quite a moment.
The new-ish government spelling out a different approach to Israel and the conflict in the Middle East from that of its predecessor – the third such time it has done so in two months.
When David Lammy became foreign secretary in early July, he requested an assessment of whether the evidence suggested Israel’s approach to the war could be in breach of international law.
The assessment, I understand, was similar to those requested by the previous government and conducted by the same group of officials.
But officials advise and ministers decide – and ministers now have come to a different conclusion than their predecessors.
- You can read more from Chris here
UK suspends some arms sales to Israelpublished at 07:15 British Summer Time 3 September
Emily Atkinson
Live page editor
Image source, Reuters
The UK decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel is "disappointing" and sends the "wrong message", an Israeli minister tells the BBC.
Announcing the move yesterday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there was a “clear risk” the equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international law.
In response, Amichai Chikli says the decision comes "at a very sensitive moment" - when Israelis were burying six people "murdered in Hamas tunnels".
We'll bring you more detail on the suspension shortly - and stay with us for the latest reaction and analysis throughout the day.