To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has undertaken an Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment for providing (a) assistance and (b) arms to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered on
29 November 2023
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments (OSJAs) which provide the basis for internal MOD decision making processes on a range of defence engagement activity with Israel. These have been updated since the 7 October 2023.
As for undertaking an international humanitarian law assessment for providing arms to Israel, this is the responsibility of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which in turn advises the Department for Business and Trade. Therefore, the MOD does not undertake its own OSJA for the supply of arms to Israel, but any relevant information held by the MOD is shared across His Majesty’s Government (HMG) to be considered as part of HMG’s overall export licensing process.