Stephen asks about British arms sales to Israel
Yesterday, 12 December 2023, MPs debated the sale of British arms to Israel. Stephen spoke in the debate to question the strength of the rules governing UK arms sales.
Zarah Sultana MP hosted a Westminster Hall debate on the topic “arms export licenses for sales to Israel”. The debate followed growing concern over the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza and worry that the Israel Defence Force (IDF) are using British-sold arms in their operations.
To export arms, or goods that could be used in military action, a company must apply for an export license from the Government. The Government has eight criteria that must be met for arms to be sold. These include requirements that the purchasing country must respect human rights, use the arms to preserve peace, and align with the UK’s international obligations.
Intervening in the debate, Stephen said, “we are often told by ministers… that we have one of the toughest arms export control regimes in the world, and yet we never see any evidence of how these rules are applies in practice… it leaves me suspecting that this regime is not all it is cracked up to be.”