United Kingdom Faces Pressure to Suspend Israeli Arms Exports from Legal Professionals

A group of over 600 lawyers and retired judges in the UK have urged the government to halt arms sales to Israel due to concerns that these sales violate international law. Since 2015, the UK has approved approximately £487 million (US$616 million) worth of weapon sales to Israel through single issue licenses. This includes key equipment for F-35 fighter jets manufactured in the US and sold to Israel. The opposition parties and individual lawmakers, including former UK national security adviser Peter Ricketts, have renewed demands for the government to suspend exports in light of escalating pressure. The calls for an end to arms exports intensified following an Israeli airstrike that killed three UK aid workers. Gaza's health ministry collects data on fatalities but does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.