UK Government issues woeful response to International Development Committee report, undermining its position on upholding international humanitarian law

London, 5^th September 2025 – Today, the UK Government has issued its response to the latest report published by the International Development Committee (IDC), which included evidence supplied by ICJP. The government response is a woeful abdication of responsibility.

The IDC report was entitled “Protection not permission: The UK’s role in upholding international humanitarian law (IHL) and supporting the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.” ICJP submitted eight pages of evidence to the IDC. The report cited ICJP’s evidence, in relation to the efficacy of sanctions as an important tool for addressing suspected breaches of IHL.

The report referred to the importance of protecting accountability mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), the protection of humanitarian aid workers, and the possibility that UK weapons components could be used in attacks on aid workers or humanitarian infrastructure. It also emphasised the government’s inconsistency in calling out IHL violations in Gaza and in other conflict situations.

Now, the UK Government has issued its response. Despite the findings of the report, the government has attempted to argue that harm to civilians is ‘tragic’ but not proof of international humanitarian law violations. 

The government also published its response to the IDC regarding arms exports to Israel, claiming that their own assessments through the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria would be used to assess licenses. However, former senior Foreign Office Diplomat Mark Smith has said that: “In a high-level meeting with senior officials, including legal advisers, it was acknowledged that the UK had exceeded the threshold for halting arms sales.”

ICJP’s Senior Public Affairs Officer Jonathan Purcell said:

“This is a woeful abdication of responsibility from the government. They must realise that people see through all the carefully chosen language, and that they risk becoming a laughingstock if they keep reiterating their ‘commitment to upholding international humanitarian law (IHL)’, whilst maintaining their current position.

Not only are they refusing to take action to pressure Israel to uphold IHL, but they are actively supplying F-35 weapons parts to Israel, helping it to carry out its genocide.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. ICJP is a legal organisation based in London, working to uphold international law and defend the rights of Palestinians.
2. International Development Committee. (12^th June 2025) “Protection not permission: The UK’s role in upholding international humanitarian law and supporting the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.”
3. Government response to IDC report. (5^th September 2025)
4. Mark Smith. (9^th February 2025) I saw illegality and complicity with war crimes. That’s why I quit the UK Foreign Office. The Guardian.
5. For more information or for media inquiries, please contact the ICJP news desk at press@icjpalestine.com.
6. Photo Credit: Chris Eason, Wikimedia Commons