Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Tuesday by phone with British Prime Minister Starmer, who thanked Netanyahu for the release of British citizen Emily Damari, 28, and congratulated him on his actions for the release of the other two hostages: Romi Gonen, 24, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31.
Damari was released in the first stage of a ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas on Sunday following 471 days in Hamas captivity.
At least 14 British nationals were killed in the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Jewish communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the BBC. Several, like Damari, were taken captive and dragged into the Gaza Strip by terrorists during the invasion.
Netanyahu also raised the issue of the weapons export licenses to Israel that have been frozen in the United Kingdom. Starmer stated that an evaluation of the issue is being carried out.
The British government suspended some arms sales to the Israel Defense Forces on Sept. 2, claiming that there was a “clear risk” that the weapons could be used by the Israel Defense Forces to “commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy informed lawmakers that London would cancel 30 out of 350 licenses, banning the export of aircraft, drones, helicopters and ground targeting equipment.
“It is with regret that I inform the House today the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain U.K. arms exports to Israel,” he told the House of Commons.
“There does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” London’s top diplomat added.
Then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that he was “deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions placed by the U.K. Government on export licenses to Israel’s defense establishment.”
“This comes at a time when we fight a war on 7 different fronts—a war that was launched by a savage terrorist organization, unprovoked. At a time when we mourn 6 hostages who were executed in cold blood by Hamas inside tunnels in Gaza. At a time when we fight to bring 101 hostages home,” Gallant wrote in a post on X.
“I stand by our troops and security agencies working with immense courage, professionalism and moral values. We remain committed to defending the State of Israel and her people,” he added.
In August, the British Department for Business and Trade froze all weapons export licenses to the IDF pending a government review.
