Many want UK to ‘go further’ on halt to Israel arms sales: House of Lords member

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UK has taken some steps with regards to halting weapons sales to Israel but “many of us would like to see them go further,” according to Syed Kamall, a member of the British House of Lords.

Kamall emphasized that there is still raging debate within the UK on the question of weapons sales to Israel, which stands accused of genocide in Gaza, where it has killed or wounded more than 142,000 Palestinians since launching a brutal offensive following a Hamas attack last October.

Israel has also expanded its aggression to Lebanon, ramping up deadly strikes on what it claims are Hezbollah targets, killing more than 1,500 people and injuring over 4,500 others since late September.

Western countries supplying weapons to Israel, primarily the US, Germany and UK, have been facing scathing criticism over possible complicity in violations of international law being committed by Israel during its ongoing offensives in Gaza and Lebanon.

The UK’s Labour government suspended 30 of 350 arms export licenses to Israel in September, but remains staunchly against a complete halt.

“You’ve seen the government make some moves. They’ve stopped selling some arms. Some people are saying they should go further, and of course, many of us would like to see them go further, but this is a debate to be had in a pluralistic society,” Kamall told Anadolu in an interview at an event in Istanbul.

“There are people in the media and also many commentators and many politicians in British Parliament calling for an end of sales to Israel, but there are others who are saying, ‘No, you should continue to support to support Israel.’ So, once again, because we have a diverse range of views in our country, that’s what you’ll see in the debate.”

Kamall, who has held various ministerial positions in past Conservative governments, said he personally “would like to see halting of sales of equipment to Israel from Britain.”

However, he added, British politicians argue that “they don’t send that much arms (to Israel) as other countries.”

Since 2008, the UK has granted export licenses worth £576 million (over $755 million) to Israel, with a significant portion approved in 2017, according to government data.

Many of these licenses were for components related to military radars, electronic warfare, and aircraft systems.

In 2022, the UK granted export licenses worth £42 million for military products, less than 1% of Israel’s defense imports. This dropped to £18 million in 2023.

Between Oct. 7, 2023 and May 31, 2024, 108 licenses were issued for military and non-military-controlled goods to Israel.

- ‘International legal system has broken down’

Israel’s genocide in Gaza is a reflection of the abject state of the global legal system, according to Ali Salman, the head of Islam and Liberty Network, a platform for researchers and academics in Muslim-majority countries.

“If you look at the Gaza situation, it is very clear that the most fundamental freedom, which is the freedom to life, and then associated freedoms like freedom to property, have been taken away by a crude use of military power, which is unlawful in nature and … a violation of international law, as has been established by international authorities, including the UN,” Salman told Anadolu.

He asserted that the “genocide must be stopped immediately” but prospects for this happening are dim given the failings of international structures.

“The main problem is that the international legal system has broken down,” he said.

“While we believe that individual liberties and protection of life, which is provided by the constitutions of each country, is important, it is also important that the international legal system is made effective.”

On the role of Arab and Muslim countries, Salman said there is “a role of economic power … (and) political power which many Muslim countries and OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) member countries are failing to perform.”

“While we are in the right to criticize Western state powers, we should also criticize Muslim countries and Arab countries, who have also failed to protect the lives and liberties of their brothers and sisters,” he added.

*Ibrahim Hamdi Hacicaferoglu contributed to this story