Britain freezes more than 80 arms export licenses to Israeli occupation

LONDON, Sept. 29 (YPA) – Britain has revealed it is tightening restrictions on arms exports to the Israeli occupation by freezing more than 80 licenses for equipment that could be used by the occupation forces.

Minister for the Middle East Stephen Doughty said the freeze was due to the possibility of the equipment being used in Gaza operations, noting a “double lock” mechanism that prevents approval of licenses that do not meet the criteria. He added that the number currently frozen is nearly three times what was frozen in September 2024 when about 30 licenses were suspended under David Lammy, according to the Jewish Chronicle.

He explained that about 50 new licenses were added to the list, bringing the total to more than 80 out of about 350 licenses. Shipments for the F-35 fighter jet program were excluded due to national security and Britain’s commitments to its allies, warning that halting spare parts could harm European security.

The decision comes amid criticism within the government and the Labour Party of the occupation policy in Gaza and the West Bank, after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband received a standing ovation at the Labour conference in Liverpool for speaking about war crimes in Gaza and defending the ban on trade with settlements.