The 22-day operation which ended on 18 January has been widely condemned as disproportionate by critics.

The British government has been challenged by human rights groups and
members of the UK parliament over concerns raised by Amnesty
International that British-made equipment was used illegally in Gaza.

Amnesty says both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the conflict.

In April, the British government issued a statement saying it had not
contravened its own guidelines, which it described as “stringent”, but
said it was was reviewing existing licences.

On Monday, the Foreign Office said in a statement that
it had conducted the review, and found “in a small number of cases
Israeli action in Cast Lead would result in the export of those goods
now contravening the… criteria”.

An unnamed Israeli official said five of 35 contracts for naval equipment had been cancelled.

Media reports quoted Israeli officials as saying these all related to the Saar 4.5 gunboat.

In April, the British Foreign Office said there were “credible reports”
that the vessels had been used in a “naval fire support role” during
Operation Cast Lead.

The British Foreign Office said future decisions would “take into account what has happened in the recent conflict”.

“We do not grant export licences where there is a clear risk that arms
will be used for external aggression or internal repression,” it said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli
public radio: “We’ve had many embargoes in the past… We can manage.
This shouldn’t bother us.”

Palestinian rights groups say about 1,400 Palestinians died during the operation.

Thirteen Israelis died during the conflict, nine of them were soldiers serving in Gaza.

Israel said its operation aimed to reduce rocket fire from Gaza aimed at its southern towns.