UK’s partial Israel arms sales halt: Move for ethical accountability or political concerns?

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) – The UK government’s decision to suspend some arms export licenses to Israel has sparked heated debate in the country, as experts and rights groups question its scope and actual impact on Israel’s military capabilities.

Several politicians have also raised similar concerns, including Labour’s own Zarah Sultana, who condemned the government for not going far enough.

Sultana, currently suspended from the ruling party, pointed out that the move leaves 320 arms licenses intact, including those supplying parts for F-35 fighter jets, and called for a complete ban on arms sales to Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, derided the UK for what he called a “shameful” decision, sparking concerns about a potential diplomatic fallout.

Downing Street has refrained from addressing Netanyahu’s remarks, instead reiterating the UK’s position as a “staunch ally” of Israel.

The Conservative Party has also criticized the government, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson accusing Labour of abandoning Israel and questioning whether the decision was intended to aid Hamas.

Another point of contention has been the timing of the announcement, coinciding with the funerals of Israeli hostages recently found dead in Gaza.

However, Iain Overton, executive director of Action on Armed Violence, stressed the importance of considering the broader humanitarian context.

“The loss of life on both sides of the conflict is deeply tragic, but the disproportionate number of casualties in Gaza necessitates a re-evaluation of our support to ensure it aligns with international law and our ethical obligations,” he told Anadolu.

Ceren Kenar, a senior foreign affairs consultant in London, pointed out that the Foreign Office has long argued that the UK’s position on arms sales to Israel was becoming increasingly untenable, potentially damaging the country’s international credibility.

She suggested that the Labour government’s decision might also be influenced by domestic political concerns, as the party has been losing support within the Muslim community and facing pressure from Labour MPs and their constituents.

- ‘Necessary and overdue step’

The UK contributes to the F-16 and F-35 fighter jets used by Israel, with approximately 15% of the components in each F-35 being manufactured by British industry, according to data provided by Action on Armed Violence.

These jets can be equipped with 2,000-pound bombs, which have a lethal radius of up to 365 meters (nearly 1,200 feet).

These weapons have been used in Gaza, including in indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, raising serious concerns of possible violation of international humanitarian law.

Considering its role in manufacturing components for military equipment used by Israel, the UK is implicated in the broader military-industrial complex supporting Tel Aviv’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which has killed or wounded more than 135,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7.

Overton views the UK’s decision as “a necessary and overdue step.”

“The scale of civilian casualties and the devastating impact on Gazan communities have crossed a line that should prompt all responsible nations to reassess their role in the ongoing conflict,” he said.

“The suspension of arms exports reflects a recognition of this situation and a small commitment to ensuring that British-made weapons are not used in ways that could further exacerbate the suffering of innocent people.”

- UK’s ‘balancing act might become unsustainable’

Kenar emphasized that while the Labour government’s decision is politically significant, it appears to have satisfied no one.

“The government is trying to please conflicting parties, but it seems that this decision has pleased none,” she told Anadolu.

Among the domestic voices criticizing the move was the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who said it sends “the wrong message at the wrong time.”

Labour’s current leadership under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is particularly sensitive to accusations of antisemitism that plagued the party during the tenure of his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn.

Starmer’s wife is Jewish and there are many pro-Israel figures within the party, leading to significant internal pressure to avoid any appearance of being anti-Israel.

“This is decision is politically very important, albeit militarily not because the UK is not a large arms supplier to Israel. It only has modest arms sales,” said Kenar.

“It won’t change anything on the ground militarily, but politically … it serves to the further isolation of Israel.”

She warned that as Israel’s war rages on with no cease-fire in sight, the British government’s current “balancing act might become unsustainable.”