Lahore, 23rd May: According to a study, it has been found that British-made military equipment was used in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
According to reports, airstrikes on the Palestinian territories began on May 10, killing 232 people, including 65 children.
Despite the stringent arms export regulations, British-made equipment appeared to have helped fuel the fighting.
An Israeli army spokesman confirmed last week that the state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets were among those used to bomb Gaza.
Lockheed Martin, a US jet maker, says ‘dozens of key parts of the aircraft can be seen in the UK.’
The British Defense Magazine estimates that 15% of these parts and equipment were manufactured in the UK.
On Friday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, while inspecting the new British aircraft carrier, said with personal pride that the fighter jet ‘shows how we are making the right investment across the UK. And developing through new skills-based jobs.’
Military equipment makers say there are more than 100 British suppliers of F-35 aircraft, including BAE Systems, GE Association, Martin Baker, Selex, Cobham, Ultra Electronics, UTC Acquisition Systems and Rolls-Royce’S role.
Israeli forces are known for using F-16 fighter jets and Apache helicopters.
The British government has already acknowledged that they are ‘almost certainly’ equipped with British-supplied equipment.
During a previous military operation, then-British Foreign Secretary David Miliband issued a statement in 2009 stating that in both cases, British-made equipment was exported to the United States that would eventually be used by Israel.
The UK-made devices used in the F16 include state-of-the-art targeting devices such as up and down views and advanced display units.
Apache helicopter gunships, meanwhile, use British-made radar systems, navigation equipment, engines and fire-fighting equipment.
The Pakistani publication, The Independent has presented the evidence to the British government, which regulates the export of arms and sensitive military equipment, but only states that ‘Britain takes its arms exports very seriously.’
Human rights groups have called for a halt to military exports to Israeli and Palestinian as part of a full review of British arms sales to war-torn areas.
“Hundreds of people have been killed in bombings over the past two weeks and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified,” said Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade, an anti-arms trade group.
“The government tells us it is concerned, but it has failed to take the least steps, and has consistently refused to answer the basic question of whether the UK-made weapons it sold should be used.
“It simply came to our notice then. British-made weapons and equipment have been used against the Palestinians many times and it seems to have happened again.”
“We are always told that arms export regulations are reportedly very strict, but nothing could be further from the truth,” Smith said.
After so many more violations and atrocities, will Boris Johnson and his co-workers finally change their policy and stop exporting violence and oppression around the world?
“We must all hope that all parties will abide by this ceasefire, but it cannot be a return to normalcy based on the injustice of occupation and blockade alone.”
“The time has come for the governments involved, such as the United Kingdom, to push for meaningful peace and stop prioritizing the profits of arms companies over the rights of the Palestinians.”
“Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups are committing a number of war crimes in a horrific war, and the UK must ensure that: He is not a party to these crimes by selling arms.”
Before a full review of British arms sales in the region, the ministers should immediately make military exports to Israel and a third country that could include British-supplied equipment in the arms supply to Israel.
“We have called on the UN Security Council to ban the sale of arms to Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, but the stalemate at the UN means that countries like Britain must take immediate action.”
“British ministers in particular must explain whether British technology is still being used in the Israeli military drone program that came to light in 2006 but is largely secret.”
Official figures show that since the formation of the Conservative government in 2015, Britain has allowed Israeli forces to sell 400 million pounds of weapons.
These weapons include planes, bombs, armored vehicles and ammunition. Richard Bergen, a Labor MP who asked ministers in Parliament about exports, told The Independent: “How can the British government claim to be a peacemaker when it is arming Israel in this way?”
After so many civilian casualties in recent days, it is time for the British government to impose an immediate ban on all arms sales to Israel.
Without doing so, our government’s talk of peace would be a hollow claim. In fact, the Israeli government is involved in the war against the Palestinian people
Violence erupted in Israel and Palestinian territories following Palestinian protests against the eviction of families from the Israeli-occupied area of Sheikh Jarrah’s neighborhood.
In response, Israeli forces attacked worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque with hand grenades and tear gas. In retaliation, Hamas fired rockets at Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes.
Israeli officials say Hamas rocket attacks have killed 12 people in the country. Israeli attacks killed 232 Palestinians, including 65 children, and injured more than 1,900.
Israel says 160 Palestinians were killed. A ceasefire was reached on Friday, which is still being implemented.
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