UK Military Support Part of Israel's Genocide, Violates International Law - BPC

UK Military Support Part of Israel's Genocide, Violates International Law - BPC

The British Palestinian Committee (BPC) has stated that the UK government could be violating international law by providing military assistance, weapons supplies, logistical support, and directly intervening in Israel’s military activities in Yemen during its attacks on Gaza.

In a report published on Tuesday, the BPC claimed that while the UK government is not directly involved in violence in Gaza, it plays a "key role" by issuing arms licenses and collaborating militarily with Israel. British-made F-35 components, which are directly sent to Israel and other partner countries, have been critical for the maintenance of Israel’s warplanes.

The report noted, "The UK is not only failing to uphold international law as a third party but is actively complicit in Israel’s genocide."

"This two-way partnership enables Israeli companies to develop technologies that are used to kill Palestinians and deepens collaboration between British and Israeli armed forces," the report added. It further stated that British military bases in Cyprus have served as a "critical asset" for Israel's genocide in Gaza.

In addition to direct military intervention in Yemen, the UK has helped safeguard Israel’s military infrastructure, especially in its drills against Iran. The report highlighted that after Israel bombed an Iranian consulate building in Damascus, Syria, in April 2024, killing 13 people, the UK played an active role in protecting Israel’s military infrastructure.

BPC director Sarah Husseini told Al Jazeera, "UK ministers and officials are fully aware of the UK’s obligations under international law. They have acknowledged Israel’s illegal occupation, and the world’s highest court has informed them that Israel’s actions in Gaza potentially qualify as genocide."

She added, "We are, therefore, calling on the government to immediately suspend arms exports, halt military cooperation, and uphold the inalienable rights of Palestinians. Failure to do so would leave the UK government subject to appropriate legal consequences."

In April 2024, six months after the war in Gaza, then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that the UK would not cease arms sales to Israel, although he later claimed these arms accounted for "less than one percent" of Israel’s military imports.

In September 2024, the UK suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses, citing a "clear risk" of violations of international humanitarian law. However, the British government still granted Israel 34 arms export licenses.

The BPC report emphasized that the UK is legally obligated to take measures to prevent genocide and hold individuals or entities accountable for such crimes, both domestically and internationally where possible.

In 2022, the UK supplied Israel with £42 million ($53 million) worth of weapons.