What does the UK’s partial stop on arms exports to Israel really mean?

Campaigners say UK government decision does not go far enough as only 30 of 350 arms licences are suspended.

The British government has suspended some arms export licences to Israel, saying the weapons could be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law.

But the move, which comes amid lingering international criticism of Israel’s killing of more than 40,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, does not go far enough as it exempts crucial F-35 fighter jet parts, according to rights organisations and experts.

Let’s take a look at what we know:

Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the United Kingdom’s parliament on Monday that 30 of 350 arms exports licences to Israel are being suspended to cover items that could be used in the Gaza war, citing international humanitarian law concerns.

Those comprise components for military aircraft including fighter jets, helicopters and drones, but will exclude parts for lethal F-35 jets, except for those going directly to Israel.