UK arms exports to Israel continue despite license suspension

[MIDDLE EAST] New analysis of trade data has shown that UK companies have continued to export thousands of military items to Israel, including munitions, even after the UK government suspended a significant number of arms export licences to the country last September.

The investigation also raises concerns that the UK may have breached an agreement not to sell parts for the F-35 fighter jet directly to Israel. The UK government had previously stated that components for the F-35 would only be sent to the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin to ensure the integrity of the fighter jet’s global supply chain—a decision deemed critical for national security and NATO interests.

The F-35 programme has long been a contentious issue in UK-Israel arms trade relations. As a tier-one partner in the F-35 project, the UK has invested billions in its development and manufacturing. While the government has maintained that parts are exclusively delivered to the US for assembly, critics argue that this arrangement allows for indirect military support to Israel, particularly given the country’s large fleet of F-35s. The latest data raises the possibility that the UK has been directly supplying parts to Israel, which would undermine previous assurances.

The findings have prompted former Labour shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, to call for a full investigation. McDonnell argued that it would be a matter for resignation if Foreign Secretary David Lammy had misled Parliament when he told MPs in September that most of the UK's exports to Israel were “defensive in nature.”

“The government has kept its arms supplies to Israel shrouded in secrecy,” McDonnell said. “They must come clean in response to this extremely troubling evidence and halt all British arms exports to Israel to ensure no British-made weapons are used in Netanyahu’s plans to annex the Gaza Strip and commit ethnic cleansing.”

The call for transparency comes amidst growing international scrutiny of arms exports to Israel. A report by the UN Human Rights Council last month highlighted the role of Western-supplied weapons, including those from the UK, in potential war crimes committed in Gaza. Campaigners contend that the UK's ongoing arms exports may violate its commitments under the Arms Trade Treaty, which prohibits transfers if there is a “substantial risk” of such violations.

The research, conducted by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Progressive International, and Workers for a Free Palestine, used data from the Israeli tax authority to investigate which items have been imported by Israel under the 200 arms export licences still in place. The study covers the first seven months of the suspension, up to March 2024.

In September, the Labour government halted 29 export licences for offensive weapons to Israel, but left 200 licences active, including one for equipment related to the F-35 programme. The government cited national security concerns in ensuring the fighter jet’s supply chain remained intact.

However, this carve-out has faced legal challenges. Human rights groups argue it sets a dangerous precedent. Palestinian advocacy organizations have filed a judicial review, claiming the exemption contradicts the UK’s commitment to international humanitarian law. A court hearing on the matter is expected later this year and may require the government to disclose further details about the exports.

The suspensions were announced amid concerns that Israel might use the weapons in ways that violate international humanitarian law. UK ministers have repeatedly assured MPs that the remaining licences did not cover goods for use by the Israeli military in its ongoing conflict with Hamas.

For example, Lammy told MPs in September that the remaining licences covered items like “goggles and helmets for use by one of the UK’s closest allies.” However, the Foreign Office has not provided specific details about the types of equipment covered by the continuing licences.

The new research, however, calls into question the validity of this distinction between offensive and defensive equipment. It suggests that UK exports may have included munitions and other military supplies, raising concerns about the effectiveness of oversight in ensuring such items are not used in conflict.

The research indicates that since October 2023, at least 14 shipments of military goods have been sent from the UK to Israel, including 13 air shipments to Ben Gurion Airport and one maritime delivery to Haifa, which contained 160,000 items. From September 2024 onwards, more than 8,600 items categorized under "bombs, grenades, torpedoes, missiles, and similar munitions" have been exported.

These findings challenge the government’s earlier claims of minimal arms exports to Israel. Analysts point out that the £500,000 valuation of these shipments may not fully reflect their true scale, as customs codes often mask the nature or potential military use of the goods. For instance, components listed as “vehicle parts” could be repurposed for military vehicles used in combat.

In addition to munitions, four shipments containing 146 items under the category “tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles” were made after September 2023. Although the total value of these shipments was just over £500,000, they indicate the continuation of military exports despite the suspension of licences for offensive weapons.

The data from Israel’s tax authority includes information such as export codes, country of origin, shipment value, and transportation method. However, it does not specify the supplier or the recipient, leaving questions about the exact nature of the goods being shipped.

On the issue of F-35 parts, the report finds that the pattern of UK exports to Israel remains largely unchanged since September 2023, but it is unclear whether the items being shipped are military components.

Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South, said: “This explosive report shows that the government has been misleading us about the arms it’s supplying to Israel while it continues its actions in Gaza. These aren’t just ‘helmets and goggles’; we’re talking about thousands of arms and munitions.”

The controversy over arms exports has ignited significant political fallout. In addition to Sultana, at least a dozen Labour MPs are calling for an emergency debate on the issue, expressing concern that the party’s stance on human rights could be compromised. The pressure on Lammy to address these concerns in Parliament is mounting, especially following the International Court of Justice’s ruling in January that Israel’s actions in Gaza may constitute violations of the Genocide Convention.

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.