THE UK Government has been urged to stop selling weapons to Israel in a petition launched by an SNP MP and backed by his "outraged" constituents.
Martyn Day, the representative for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, said that he decided to act after swathes of constituents contacted him over the situation in Gaza.
It is estimated that the UK has licenced arms worth over £442 million to Israel between May 2015 and August 2022, according to a data analysis by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).
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Numerous MPs have raised concerns about these arms exports, particularly in light of the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, but UK ministers have simply responded by referencing the UK’s strategic export licencing system.
This is where applications for licences to export weapons and other related items are assessed against criteria including obligations under international law and the potential for the goods to be used in the violation of human rights.
Day cited the provisional ruling of the International Criminal Court urging Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza as he launched the petition.
The petition sets out substantial evidence that UK arms being sold to Israel are being used to kill innocent civilians in Gaza.
The petition, presented on behalf of Day’s constituents in the Commons, reads: “Declares that the Government’s sale of arms to Israel is unacceptable, as there is substantial evidence that these arms are being used to kill innocent civilians in Gaza; further declares that this is in direct breach of the UK arms export policy, which states that the licenses cannot be granted if there is a ‘clear risk’ the arms might be used in a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
“The petitioners therefore request the House of Commons to urge the Government to suspend all arms transfers to Israel including weapons, arms, munition and ammunition, parts and components and other equipment that pose a substantial risk that they could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in this conflict.”
Day (above) said: “A large number of constituents have contacted me over the past few months to express their outrage at the escalating situation in Gaza and Palestine. Many believe that we should stop exporting arms to Israel, and I agree with them.”
It comes as more than 27,000 people have been killed and 66,000 wounded by Israel’s offensive in Gaza since October 7, the Hamas-controlled territory’s health ministry said on Thursday.
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South Africa’s foreign minister has accused Israel of ignoring last week’s ruling by the United Nations’ top court, which ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent deaths in Gaza.
The number of deaths has grown by more than 1100 since the International Criminal Court in the Hague told Israel to do its best to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel denies the genocide accusations brought against it at the court by South Africa.
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