What happened
Britain has frozen over 80 export licenses for military equipment to Israel, citing concerns that the items could be used by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. The decision is part of a tougher stance by the UK government towards Israel, with the Minister for the Middle East, Stephen Doughty, announcing that an additional 50 licenses have been frozen.
The frozen licenses include items such as bombs, missiles, and ammunition, as well as components for tanks and other military vehicles. However, exports related to the F-35 fighter jet program have been exempted from the freeze, due to national security considerations and commitments to allies.
The UK government's decision has been criticized by some, including the chair of the foreign affairs committee, Emily Thornberry, who argued that the move is a political rather than a legal decision. Thornberry suggested that the UK should adopt a model similar to that of the Netherlands, which marks certain components in exports to the US as not for use in Israeli military equipment.
The freeze on export licenses is part of a broader shift in the UK's policy towards Israel, with the government announcing plans to review the legality of Israel's presence in the occupied territories. The move has been welcomed by some, including the UK's Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza.
