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Expected measures are under Leahy law and against the Netzah Yehuda battalion, accused of human rights violations against PalestiniansBenjamin Netanyahu has said he will fight against any efforts to impose sanctions on Israeli military units, amid reports that an Israel Defense Forces battalion is facing US sanctions over its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.The US outlet Axios reported on Saturday that...

For the first time, government military spending increased in all five geographical regions, Sipri thinktank findsGlobal military expenditure has reached a record high of $2440bn (£1970bn) after the largest annual rise in government spending on arms in over a decade, according to a report.The 6.8% increase between 2022 and 2023 was the steepest since 2009, pushing spending to the highest recorded by the Stockholm...

Government auditors must look into claims of complicity in corruption on arms deals with UK, says Labour peerAlleged Ministry of Defence complicity in the “national scandal” of bribery on arms deals in Saudi Arabia must be investigated by government auditors, a senior Labour politician has said.Peter Hain, the antiapartheid campaigner and peer, said in a letter to the National Audit Office (NAO) that a...

Foreign secretary’s intervention comes as pressure grows on ministers to reveal legal advice over Gaza conflictDavid Cameron will set out the UK’s reasoning for continuing to export arms to Israel on Tuesday as ministers face ongoing pressure to disclose the official legal advice on the trade.The foreign secretary will discuss the Middle East crisis with his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, on a visit to...

London mayor’s comments come as other senior Labour figures call for government to take action after killing of aid workersSadiq Khan has become the most senior Labour politician to call for an immediate end of UK arms sales to Israel, with a number of other prominent party figures also saying the government should take action after the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza.The...

Alex Younger’s claim that insufficient care is being paid to collateral risks comes as UK is urged to suspend arms sales to IsraelMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s actions in Gaza have “bordered on the reckless”, a former head of MI6 has said, amid pressure on the UK government to stop arms sales.Alex Younger, who led the Secret Intelligence Service between 2014 and 2020,...

Lord Ricketts says further steps needed to put pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu after seven aid workers killed in GazaMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe UK should stop arming Israel, a former national security adviser has said, after seven international aid workers were killed in Gaza in an Israeli airstrike.Lord Ricketts, who was also the former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, told BBC Radio...

Ministers under growing pressure to act amid signs Israel intends to ignore UN ceasefire resolutionParliamentary pressure is building on the UK government to ban arms sales to Israel, amid signs that Israel intends to ignore the UN security council resolution passed this week calling on all sides to commit to a ceasefire.A letter signed by more than 130 parliamentarians to the foreign secretary, David...

Documents show officials stressing need to ‘keep the Saudis on side’ after revelations about notorious al-Yamamah dealBritain’s Ministry of Defence moved questionable payments through its own bank account amid one of the biggest corruption scandals in history, despite concerns the money could be pocketed by the Saudi royal family.Previously confidential documents show how the MoD agreed to make the payments to a Saudi bank...

Campaigners to appeal after court declines to block export licences despite concerns about human rights breaches in Gaza warThe high court has dismissed a case urging the suspension of UK arms sales to Israel.The legal challenge against the UK Department for Business and Trade was launched in December by the Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (Glan). Continue...

Budgets expected to increase further amid ‘deteriorating security landscape’ triggered by invasion of UkraineGlobal defence spending increased by 9% to a record $2.2tn during 2023 driven by heightened geopolitical tensions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to an annual assessment by a military thinktank.The International Institute of Strategic Studies added that it expected budgets to increase further in 2024 as the war continued...

Documents reveal humanitarian law investigation was far more intensive than David Cameron suggestedMiddle East crisis – live updatesUK Foreign Office legal advisers were unable to conclude that Israel was in compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) in its bombardment of Gaza, court documents reveal.After reviewing specific potential breaches of IHL cited in a report by Amnesty International, the Foreign Office initially concluded it had...