Britain expected to suspend some arms sales to Israel this week

Scope of restrictions remains unclear, but change in policy would mark significant breach of UK-Israel relations

The UK is expected to suspend some arms exports to Israel as early as Tuesday, The Telegraph has learned.
Two Israeli sources said Israel was braced for the announcement of a suspension in the coming days, but that the two allies were engaged in intense talks.
The scope of the arms restrictions remains unclear but the change in policy would mark a significant breach of UK-Israel relations.
While Israeli sources said the announcement could be made on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer’s Government may yet change course, with tensions in the region running high following the deaths of 12 Israeli children in a Hezbollah strike on Saturday.
“A review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law is ongoing,” a UK government spokesman told The Telegraph.
Prof Philippe Sands, a lawyer who has represented Palestine, said a ruling last month by the UN’s top court on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories should lead to a suspension of arms sales.
The International Court of Justice found that Israel’s settlement policies in the West Bank were in breach of international law.
The Telegraph understands the prospect of a British arms suspension has sparked anger and concern within the Israeli government.
The Government has made a number of recent decisions that signal a toughening of the UK’s policy towards Israel.
Last week, David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, announced a renewal of aid for UNRWA, a UN agency, which is still investigating Israeli accusations about its members taking part in the Oct 7 massacre.
The Government also dropped a challenge to the International Criminal Court’s looming arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Yoav Gallant, the defence minister.
The UK has sold components for Israeli F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets, helicopters, submarines and body armour. Exports to Israel were estimated at £18.2 million last year.
The previous Conservative government came under pressure to halt arms exports to Israel following the killing of three British aid workers in Gaza. 
Lord Cameron, the former foreign secretary, announced in April that the government would not impose restrictions, saying Israel was acting within international law.
The decision was met with criticism by Mr Lammy, the then shadow foreign secretary, who accused him of “hiding from scrutiny” after he refused to publish the legal advice.
“If there is a clear risk that UK arms might be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law, the government must suspend the sale of those arms,” he said.