Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Arms Sales to Israel

Monday 20 November 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kim Johnson asked about the potential impact of UK arms sales to Israel on civilian deaths and compliance with international humanitarian law in Gaza.
  • The Secretary of State stated that all export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the strategic export licence criteria.
  • The Secretary of State called on all parties, including the Israelis, to ensure they act within international humanitarian law.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Foreign Affairs
Context

Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, in Gaza, concerns have been raised about the impact of UK arms exports to Israel.

Question

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of UK arms sales to Israel on (a) civilian deaths and (b) compliance with international humanitarian law in Gaza?

Answer from Grant Shapps

All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the strategic export licence criteria. This Government will not use any export licences to any destination where applications are not consistent with the criteria.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide an assessment of the impact of UK arms sales specifically related to civilian deaths and compliance with international humanitarian law.

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Q2 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 12,000 innocent Palestinian civilians have been killed, with two-thirds being women and children. The UN Secretary-General has described Gaza as a 'graveyard of children'. Today an Israeli airstrike hit a United Nations Relief and Works Agency school.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer, but since the horrendous Hamas attacks on 7 October, 12,000 innocent Palestinian civilians have been killed; and two thirds were women and children. The UN Secretary-General has described Gaza as a “graveyard of children”. Today an Israeli airstrike on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency school has killed 12 people. The Indonesian hospital in Gaza is currently surrounded by Israeli Defence Forces tanks. Can the Minister confirm whether arms sold by the UK have been used in violations of international humanitarian law, and will he explain why arms sales to Israel have not yet been suspended?

Answer from Grant Shapps

The hon. Lady is right to describe as terrorism the horrendous and heinous attacks by Hamas, without which this would not have started. We call on all parties—the Israelis included—to ensure that they act within international humanitarian law. It will interest her to know that our defence exports to Israel are relatively small—just £42 million last year—and, as I mentioned in my initial answer, they go through a very strict criteria before anything is exported.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not confirm if UK arms were used in violations of international humanitarian law and lacks details on why sales have not been suspended despite ongoing conflict.

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