Arms Transfers to Israel: Knowledge and Risk of Violations of International Law

This article examines the legal criteria that States apply when deciding whether to deliver arms to a State that may be committing serious violations of international law.

The article provides an overview of overlapping legal regimes that governments need to consider when assessing whether to authorise transfers or exports of arms and other military items to recipients suspected of committing serious violations of international humanitarian law or other international crimes. The article first discussed the example of the application of the UK domestic criteria justifying continued arms trade between the UK and Israel. The article then assessed the relevant primary and secondary norms of international law.