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Written question asked by Andrew Love (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 September 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 5 September 2014 (named day). It was answered by Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) on Friday, 5 September 2014 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Exports: Israel

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of use by Israeli forces of equipment containing UK components in breaches of international humanitarian law in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

We reviewed all existing export licences to Israel during Operation Protective Edge. We found that the vast majority of exports currently licensed for Israel were not for items that could be used by Israeli forces in operations in Gaza in response to attacks by Hamas.

On 12 August, the Government announced that twelve licences were identified for components which could be part of equipment used by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza. As we were unable to clarify whether export licence criteria was being met, we took the decision to suspend this small number of export licences if there was a resumption of significant hostilities.

We monitored the situation closely and assessed that the resumption of hostilities when Hamas later broke the ceasefire was not enough to warrant a suspension.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
207825
Session
2014-15
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Armed conflict Exports Israel Middle East
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk