UK Suspends 30 Arms Export Licenses to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a cease-fire with Hamas, despite significant protests in Israel and international pressures, including from President Biden and the UK. The UK has suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel due to concerns that British-made military equipment could be used to violate international humanitarian law in Gaza. This decision was condemned by Netanyahu as 'shameful' and criticized by other Israeli leaders. However, the UK government, led by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, emphasized that the suspension is a precautionary measure, not an arms embargo, and maintains the UK's support for Israel. The suspension's impact is expected to be minimal, as it affects less than 1% of Israel's total arms imports. Amidst the controversy, international figures like Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi have called for a complete arms embargo on Israel.