During the past day, Israeli warplanes have bombed Palestinian homes in central Gaza, killing at least 17 people. Israeli aircraft have reportedly hit houses in the Nuseirat refugee camp, as well as one home in Deir el-Balah. Several of the victims are said to have been children, and others were injured in the attacks. Earlier on Saturday, Israel bombed a Palestinian school in the Rafah district of the enclave, killing at least five people and wounding many more. The school was used as a shelter by families forced from their homes after Israeli military incursions in the area.
The Israeli government has not publicly disclosed the number of civilian casualties in Gaza. However, the United Nations has reported that Israeli forces have killed at least 7,700 Palestinians since the start of the war on October 7. Thousands of others have been wounded. The conflict is the worst violence in Gaza in nearly eight months.
In the days following the outbreak of the war, some of Israel’s closest international allies, including the United States, have imposed restrictions on arms sales to the Jewish state. President Barack Obama has told his top adviser that he believes Israel’s actions in Gaza may amount to “war crimes.” The administration has also called on Israel to allow more aid to reach the Palestinian enclave and has held up a shipment of weaponry from the US to Israel that two sources said was aimed at sending a message to Israel.
The UK’s approval of arms export licenses to Israel dropped sharply after the start of the war in Gaza, with the value of permits granted for the sale of military equipment to its ally falling by more than 95% to a 13-year low. The figures, which have not previously been reported, are based on information provided by government officials to Reuters and data from the Department for Business and Trade’s Export Control unit.
Britain’s process for granting export licenses involves the private sector seeking approval to supply the weapons and then input from government lawyers as to whether the sales comply with international law. The value of the licenses approved in the period after the start of the conflict amounted to less than $1 million—many covered items such as body armor, military helmets, and all-wheel drive vehicles with ballistic protection.
The Department for Business and Trade declined to comment. The Israeli embassy in London did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, members of the British parliament and human rights groups have criticized the government for not making public more information about the arms sales to Israel. The Department of Business and Trade has promised to release more details in the coming months. The move is expected to respond to calls from several MPs for greater transparency. The UK’s Foreign Office has also been pressed to do more to support a ceasefire.
