Cameron confirms UK Government position on arms export licences to Israel is ‘unchanged’

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has confirmed the UK Government’s position on arms export licences to Israel is “unchanged” following an assessment of the latest advice.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington DC, he said: “On Israel and international humanitarian law, as required by the UK’s robust arms export control regime, I have now reviewed the most recent advice about the situation in Gaza and Israeli conduct of their military campaign.

“The latest assessment leaves our position on export licences unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received and as ever we will keep the position under review.

“Let me be clear though, we continue to have grave concerns around the humanitarian access issue in Gaza, both for the period that was assessed and subsequently.”

Amid pressure on the UK Government to publish the legal advice it has received as to whether Israel has acted in accordance with international humanitarian law, Cameron added: “We don’t publish legal advice, we don’t comment on legal advice but we act in a way that’s consistent with it. We’re a Government under the law and that’s as it should be.”

Speaking later on LBC radio Rishi Sunak also said the UK has a “long-established process” relating to the arms export regime and “we review these things regularly”.

“That’s led to no change. Actually none of our closest allies have currently suspended existing arms licences either, so we continue to discuss these things with our allies.”

The prime minister said the government has a “strict set of criteria” and an “obligation to act in accordance” with legal assessments when it comes to arms exports, and dismissed suggestions that civil servants might refuse to process licences.

He suggested it would not be “appropriate” for officials to stop work relating to the sale of arms. “That’s not something I’m familiar with, I don’t think that would be appropriate,” he said. “We have a civil service code. All civil servants should work to the civil service code.”

Sunak described the deaths of humanitarian aid workers caused by multiple Israeli airstrikes on their convoy as a “shocking tragedy”

At the US press conference Cameron also said Israel’s “public commitments” to flood Gaza with aid “now need to be turned into a reality”.

Speaking alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he said: “We’ve seen a welcome increase in trucks, with as Tony said perhaps as many as 400 going in yesterday, the highest since October 7 and of course public commitments from Israel to flood Gaza with aid.

“These now need to be turned into reality. Our position is in line with our international partners.

“So far, no like-minded countries have taken the decision to suspend existing arms export licences to Israel, and I’d add that Israel remains a vital defence and security partner to the UK.”

Amid pressure on the UK Government to publish the legal advice it has received as to whether Israel has acted in accordance with international humanitarian law, he added: “We don’t publish legal advice, we don’t comment on legal advice but we act in a way that’s consistent with it. We’re a Government under the law and that’s as it should be.”