Approved UK arms exports to Israel skyrocketed under Labour

The UK government approved $169m worth of military equipment to Israel in the three months that followed the Labour government’s partial suspension of arms exports over concerns they could be used unlawfully in Gaza.

Export data released on Thursday shows that 20 different licences in categories such as military aircraft, radars, targeting equipment, and explosive devices, were approved between October and December 2024.

Arms campaigners say the three-month total is more than what was approved altogether under the Tory government between 2020 and 2023, and said the increase was “truly shocking”.

“This is the Labour government aiding and abetting Israel’s genocide in Gaza,” said Emily Apple, media coordinator for the UK-based Campaign Against Arms Trade.

“It is sickening that instead of imposing a full two-way arms embargo, Keir Starmer’s government has massively increased the amount of military equipment the UK is sending to Israel.”

The released figures also show 15 export licences for military goods to Israel, which were refused during the same period. It is not clear how much these licences would have been worth.

They include licences for items in many of the same categories as those that were approved, as well as those covering land vehicles and naval vessels.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said the data “shows we have continued to refuse all licences for military goods that could be used by Israel in the current conflict”.

“The majority of military licences by value approved in 2024 is made up of components for items being produced in Israel for third countries, including our Nato allies, and we continue to assess all licence applications on a case-by-case basis against our strict criteria.”

Middle East Eye also asked DBT and the Foreign Office whether either department had been given assurances that the approved military items would not be used in Gaza or the occupied Palestinian territories, but did not receive answers to this question.

Martin Butcher, policy advisor on arms and conflict for Oxfam, said the scale of arms trading with Israel shown by the figures at the end of 2024 “is terrible”.

“Oxfam believes that while Israel continues to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and while the illegal occupation continues, the UK should not sell arms to Israel,” he told MEE.

“Assisting Israeli industry to build its own sales, the profits from which are used to fuel attacks on Gaza, should also cease immediately.”

Final day in court

The released data comes as the legal challenge to the UK’s arms export to Israel, brought by rights groups Al Haq and the Global Legal Action Network, enters its final day at the High Court on Friday.

The case is focused on whether the government has broken the law by continuing to supply F-35 fighter jet parts to a global supply pool, meaning they could eventually end up in Israeli jets and be used to attack Palestinians in Gaza.

The government has argued that it could not unilaterally suspend the components from being sent to the 19-nation programme’s supply chain without disrupting the global fleet of F-35s and threatening global peace and security.

The groups contend that, by doing this, the UK has breached its obligations to both domestic and international law, and has threatened to undermine the rule of law.

The public hearing is expected to conclude midday on Friday, with the case then moving to closed sessions in which security-cleared special advocates will represent the groups. A ruling is anticipated in the next few months.