The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London submitted a written statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

Entitled the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Arms Deals with Israel”, the statement said Israel’s military sector is made up of over 200 public and private companies. It is dominated by Elbit Systems and three state-owned companies: Israel Aircraft Industries, Israel Military Industries and Rafael.

“The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland spends millions of pounds each year on “battle-tested” arms from Israeli companies”, said the report.

“Official figures show that since the Conservative government was elected in May 2015, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has licensed over £400m worth of arms to Israeli forces, including aircraft, bombs, armoured vehicles, and ammunition.”, it added.

“By purchasing and enabling Israeli arms exports, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland facilitates the human rights abuses that are carried out using Israeli technology. By continuing to trade in arms with Israel, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland helps to perpetuate the occupation and the violence and illegality it entails”, warned the statement.

The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) expressed its deep concern with the seeming impunity Israel is repeatedly dealt in response to its extensive role in the arms industry and more specifically its role in using its own arms to oppress the Palestinian people and also arm other oppressive regimes around the world.

PRC called on the international community to take the necessary measures towards the State of Israel to bring its arm industry to halt by immediately shutting down the sites of Elbit Systems, refusing licenses for exports to Israel, banning arms imports from Israel, and calling for and support independent investigations into the use of Israeli arms.