A group of British pro-Palestinian activists have discovered that since September the government had sent “8,630 separate ammunition” to Israel.
New reports show that British companies continue to export military matters to Israel despite the government halt last September amid a deliberate claim that British Parliament is “misunderstood.”
Reports by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Progressive International and Free Palestinian workers revealed on Wednesday that the UK has “sent 8,630 independent ammunition since the suspension came into effect.”
“in spite of [Foreign Minister] David Lammy, Rep. Jonathan Reynolds and other ministers have repeatedly reiterated in the House that the government has terminated the direct supply of the F-35. [fighter jets] “The evidence of the parts has continued to send direct cargo of components of the deadly F-35 jet components to Israel since September 2024, indicating that these shipments are ongoing.”
In September, Ramie announced the suspension of arms export licenses of 29 of the 350 used during the Israeli war with Gaza.
Ramie said the government has found a “clear risk” that the licenses could be used to “inflictly commit or promote serious violations of international humanitarian law.” He said the ongoing license covers items such as “goggles and helmets for use by one of the UK’s closest allies.”
“The Congress was misunderstood.”
Using data from Israeli tax authorities, the report concluded that Ramie had “misunderstanding” about arms exports to Congress and Israel.
Former Labor Shadow Prime Minister John McDonnell said the government has a lot of “work to do” in response to reports.
“If Congress is misunderstood by the Foreign Secretary or Minister, it is an issue of resignation and, more importantly, potentially attracting allegations of accomplice in war crimes. The government has in its secrets overshadowed the supply of arms to Israel,” McDonnell said.
Jeremy Corbyn, a former Labour leader and Independent Parliament, said the report could explain why the government failed to respond to a public inquiry into the UK’s role in Israel’s military assault.
“When will the British government be clean about the reality of military cooperation with Israel? The people deserve to know the full-scale complicity of British crimes against humanity, and we will not go anywhere until we establish the truth,” he said.
The Foreign Ministry told Al Jazeera that the government has “suspended the “related licenses” that could be used to seriously violate or promote Gaza’s international humanitarian law.
“Of the remaining licenses in Israel, the majority are not for the Israeli Defence Forces, but for civil or re-export, and therefore not used in the war in Gaza. The only exemption is the F-35 programme due to its strategic role in NATO and its broader impact on international peace and security.”
“The proposal that Britain is licensing other weapons for Israel to use in the war in Gaza is misleading.”
“The UK is totally opposed to the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza. We urge all parties to return urgently to discuss urgently, fully implement the ceasefire agreement, ensure the release of hostages photographed by Hamas, and work towards permanent peace,” he added.
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