UK lawmakers continue calling for immediate halt of arms exports to Israel

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A group of British MPs on Monday reiterated their call for an immediate stop to arms exports licenses to Israel amid the crippling situation in the Gaza Strip.

Cross-party MPs gathered outside the parliament behind a banner saying: "Stop Arming Israel."

The display came ahead of today's debate on a petition with over 100,000 signatures calling for an immediate revocation of all arms export licenses to Israel.

As of Monday evening, 107,316 people have signed the petition.

On Sept. 2, the British government announced that it was suspending 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel after a review, warning there is a clear risk that certain UK arms exports to Israel might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The 30 licenses cover components for military aircraft, helicopters, drones, and items that facilitate ground targeting, excluding UK components for the F-35 fighter jet program.

The issue has gained ground as activists move to target the countries whose weapons and support make possible Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed over 45,000 people, most of them women and children.

Israel has continued a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and institutions denouncing the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.

Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.