UK suspends some arms export licenses to Israel

LONDON — British Foreign Minister David Lammy said Monday the country would immediately suspend some arms export licenses to Israel over fears they could be used in a way that would breach international law.

Lammy said 30 of around 350 U.K. licenses to export arms to Israel will be suspended.

“This is not a blanket ban. This is not an arms embargo,” Lammy said as he addressed lawmakers in the House of Commons.

Lammy said a review had found that there was a “clear risk” that some export licenses “might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

The suspended export licenses only involved those that could be used in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, Lammy said.

“Let me leave this house in no doubt: The U.K. continues to support Israel’s right to self-defense in accordance with international law,” Lammy said.

Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Monday.

The decision comes as protests continue in Israel, with demonstrations taking place in a bid to force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to secure a hostage deal with Hamas.

Massive crowds rallied in key Israeli cities on Sunday, with over 300,000 people gathered to demonstrate in Tel Aviv, according to a Google-translated update from the Hostage Families Forum, which organized some of the protests.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has left Israel increasingly isolated from an international community that urges a cease-fire amid concerns over the country’s military response in the Gaza enclave and harm to Palestinian civilians.

— CNBC’s Ruxandra Iordache contributed to this report.