LONDON — The British government on Tuesday defended its decision to restrict some arms sales to Israel, amid growing domestic and international criticism.

       “We’ve made this legal judgment as a result of the process we’re required to follow,” British Defense Secretary John Healey said of the move to suspend 30 of 350 arms export licenses where the government says there is “a clear risk” that the arms may be used in “serious violation of international humanitarian law” in Gaza.