The UK has issued over 100 arms export licenses to Israel between 7 October and 31 May, according to government data.
Of the 108 licenses, 37 were military and 63 non-military, which may include telecommunications equipment for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Additionally, eight open licenses were granted.
Currently, there are 345 active arms export licenses to Israel, including those issued prior to 7 October. These figures were released by the business department in response to significant parliamentary interest.
During the conflict, no arms export license applications were rejected or revoked. Emily Apple from the Campaign Against Arms Trade criticized the lack of information on the value and specific categories of the licenses, which are usually included in the quarterly arms export statistics.
In December, April, and May, ministers rejected calls to suspend arms exports to Israel, stating that their decisions were consistent with legal advice.
Several international bodies and UK campaign groups have argued that Israel’s use of military equipment in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, could breach international humanitarian law, a key criterion for suspending arms export licenses.
Since 7 October, over 36,700 Palestinians have been killed and at least 83,530 injured in the Israeli military offensive on Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. These figures are disputed by Israel.
Opponents of UK arms exports to Israel argue that they support the IDF and signal that the UK does not see Israel’s actions in Gaza as violating international law. They also contend that the arms help Israel control humanitarian aid.
In 2022, the value of UK-approved arms export licenses to Israel was £42 million, with the 2023 figure expected to be released soon. UK arms sales are significantly lower than those of the US.
President Joe Biden has acknowledged some of Israel’s military actions as indiscriminate but noted that the offensive on Rafah showed more restraint than previous operations.
The Campaign Against the Arms Trade estimates that since 2008, the UK has granted arms export licenses to Israel worth £574 million, excluding the value of open licenses. The newly released figures do not detail the manufacturers or specific equipment types exported.
Business minister Alan Mak announced the decision to publish these figures two weeks ago.
The move followed efforts by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to join a judicial review claim about arms sales initiated by Global Legal Action Network and Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights group.
The substantive case is set for early October, and it remains uncertain whether a potential Labour government will oppose the claim or end arms sales.
Labour has pledged to publish internal legal advice on continued arms sales but has not committed to halting them.
At a recent interim hearing, a judge will decide whether to extend the review period for government decision-making.
Yasmine Ahmed, director of UK Human Rights Watch, emphasized that Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law should be judged objectively, not based on Israel’s interpretation.
