PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Arms Trade: Israel (27 February 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the press release entitled Arms exports to Israel must stop immediately: UN experts, published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 23r February 2024, if she will take steps to cease the transfer of (a) weapons and (b) ammunition to Israel that would be used in Gaza.

Asked by:
Zarah Sultana (Independent)

All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

The Export Control Joint Unit will not issue an export licence to any destination where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.

The Government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely and will take any action the Government considers appropriate as the situation develops. All extant licences are kept under careful review and we are able to amend, suspend or revoke licences as circumstances require.

Answered by:
Greg Hands (Conservative)
12 March 2024