Labour MPs "Worried" Arms Sale Decision Could Damage Relations With Jewish Communities
Foreign secretary David Lammy told MPs there was a "clear risk" some UK arms being exported to Israel may be in "serious violation of international humanitarian law". (Alamy)
5 min read
There is concern among some Labour MPs that the Government decision to suspend the sale of some arms to Israel could damage relations with Jewish communities.
On Monday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it was with "regret" that he had received an assessment that there was a "clear risk" some UK arms exports to Israel may be used "to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law" in Gaza.
Lammy told MPs the Government had decided to suspend the sale of around 30 of approximately 150 licenses after a two-month review.
"These include equipment that we assess is for use in the current conflict in Gaza, such as important components which go into military aircraft, including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, as well as items which facilitate ground targeting," Lammy said.
A Labour source told PoliticsHome there were concerns among some MPs that the decision could fracture relations between the party and the Jewish community — which Labour has worked to rebuild after the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) put the party in special measures amid allegations of antisemitism, before removing it in early 2023.
"The Jewish community are obviously very upset," said the Labour source.
"MPs with large Jewish constituencies are worried...
"It's gone down really badly in the Jewish community."
One of the criticisms of the Government relates to the timing of the announcement. It came on the same day funerals were held for six Israelis killed by Hamas after they were taken hostage in October.
PoliticsHome understands Hamish Falconer, parliamentary under-secretary of state in the foreign office, messaged Jewish stakeholders on Sunday to convey his support for the Jewish diaspora after the murder of the hostages.
The same Labour source said: "They all feel a bit mugged off because 24 hours later this has happened, and it felt particularly pertinent because they were burying the dead on Monday and this was announced."
Government sources say the process of reviewing the arms licenses required Lammy to update Parliament as soon as possible after receiving the assessment, which is why he made made the House of Commons statement on Monday.
On Sunday, Lammy also met with Labour MPs to discuss the decision on arms exports prior to making the announcement, PoliticsHome understands.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said more than 40,000 people have been killed since the war started on the 7 October.
The Israeli assault after the terror group launched an attack on southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people with hundreds kidnapped into Gaza. It is estimated around 100 Israeli hostages still remain in Gaza, with six executed over the weekend shortly before Israeli troops reached them in tunnels under the enclave.
The Israeli government has insisted repeatedly it is conducting the war within international law, however there is widespread concern in international community that Israeli strikes on hospitals, schools, and key infrastructure in Gaza and the high civilian death toll could constitute war crimes. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt its offensive earlier this year.
Russell Langer, director of public affairs at the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), told PoliticsHome feeling "ranged from deep disappointment to anger" in parts of the Jewish community following the government's decision.
"For the Jewish community, when we look at what's happening in Israel, we're looking at in the context of our friends and families being out there and being the ones who will face the consequences of any successful attacks on Israel, or any threat that's being posed against Israel," he said.
"And the message sent by the government is that, for all of these words in terms of supporting Israel, the UK won't stand by Israel when in terms of defending its citizens - and will withdraw the arms at a time where Israel is currently engaged in a war which started after what was such a deadly terrorist attack on October 7."
One Labour MP said they sympathised with ministers, telling PoliticsHome the decision to suspend some arms export licenses was "politically difficult but legally correct".
"The only thing they could have done better is be mroe transparent about process. But we have to abide by international law...
"Timing is an issue but the officials ruled when they did and suppressing it would have put Lammy in breach of the ministerial code," they said.
There are also a number Labour MPs and figures on the left who want the Keir Starmer Government to go further by suspending more if not all arms exports to Israel — illustrating how difficult it is for ministers to satisfy all sides of the debate.
Reacting to Lammy's announcement on Monday, Sacha Deshmukh, the UK Chief Executive of Amnesty International, said the Government decision was "unfortunately too limited and riddled with loopholes".
Labour MP Afzal Khan, who resigned from the Labour frontbench to vote for a Scottish National Party ceasefire motion in November, said he was pleased Lammy had taken "the important first step" in suspending licenses to Israel.
"Upholding international humanitarian law must be central to any export regime, and it's clear the new Labour government recognises this," said Khan.
"Ultimately, the only thing that will stop innocent civilians being killed is an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, as the Labour government has been calling for.
"This must remain our utmost priority."
Speaking on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The UK Government has been absolutely clear that by taking military action to support its legitimate right to self defence, Israel must adhere to international humanitarian law and the UK has one of the most robust export licensing criteria in the world.
"As the foreign secretary made very clear yesterday [Monday], the decision does not change the UK’s steadfast support for Israel’s security. As you would expect, we’ve had significant engagement with both the US and Israel and other international allies ahead of this announcement.”
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