Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting on the Government’s review of UK arms export licenses to Israel, said:

“Sadly the Government’s response to growing concerns regarding the possible use of British arms in the latest Gaza crisis has so far been characterised by division, disagreement, and confusion.

“It is now nearly a week since the Government accepted the need to review all existing UK arms export licences to Israel in light of the ongoing violence in Gaza.

“These licences are jointly approved by the Business Secretary and the Foreign Secretary on behalf of the Government.

“So it is neither credible nor acceptable for Liberal Democrat Ministers to be simply issuing press statements, when instead they should be issuing urgent instructions to their own officials.

“Rather than simply taking public positions, as Ministers they should be taking action to address these widespread concerns.

“Earlier this week, Sir John Stanley MP, Chair of the House of Commons Committee on arms export controls himself challenged the Government to provide more information about whether any UK military exports have been used by the Israeli military during its recent incursion into Gaza.

“Since 2010, UK arms export licences to Israel worth £42m have been granted to 131 British defence industry manufacturers, ranging from components for drones to military radars, targeting systems and electronic warfare equipment.

“Labour is today demanding the immediate publication of the Government’s review, and confirms our view that no arms should be being exported under existing licences whilst there remain any doubts about whether the equipment could be used for internal repression, the abuse of human rights or to provoke or prolong armed conflict.

“Clearly the Government should be prepared to act swiftly in the light of the outcomes of its review so that the British public can be assured that no British arms exports are in breach of the consolidated criteria.”