Israel created a Man-made famine in Gaza

Numerous international bodies and British campaign groups have asserted that Israel’s use of military equipment in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, risks breaching international humanitarian law.

This is a key consideration in the UK’s legal criteria for deciding whether to suspend arms export licenses. It is also argued that these arms have helped Israel impose controls on humanitarian aid which have led to the creation of a “man-made famine” in Gaza.

The UK has issued more than 100 arms export licenses to Israel between October and May, according to government figures.

In total, there are currently 345 licenses for arms sales to Israel, including those issued before 7 October, 2023.

The British Department for Business and Trade released these figures today in response to what it described as exceptional circumstances, and the significant Parliamentary and public interest.

No license was revoked since Israel launched its brutal bombing campaign in Gaza, which experts have said is genocidal, nor have any been refused, with 185 applications still pending.

Emily Apple, media coordinator of the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), criticized the figures for not revealing the value or details of what arms are being supplied, rather only the number of licenses issued.

This data release was supposed to address the political and public interest in arms sales to Israel. The figures released do not do this as they do not give any details of the equipment exported or its value.

If and when we have a new Labor government, it is vital that they not only impose an arms embargo but address the lack of transparency in our export licensing system.

Ministers in three separate decisions, made in December, April and May, rejected calls to suspend arms exports to Israel. They stated that these decisions were consistent with or in line with legal advice.

Middle East Monitor / ABC Flash Point News 2024.