UK Firms Continued Arms Exports to Israel Despite Official Suspension, Report Finds

A new report has revealed that British firms have continued exporting military items to Israel despite a government-announced suspension of such sales in September 2024, raising concerns that Parliament may have been misled over the true extent of the UK’s military support, Al Jazeera reports.

The report, jointly published Wednesday by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Progressive International, and Workers for a Free Palestine, claims that since the suspension was introduced, the UK has exported more than 8,600 munitions categorized under “Bombs, Grenades, Torpedoes, Mines, Missiles And Similar Munitions Of War And Parts Thereof-Other.”

The authors argue the findings directly contradict government assurances that arms transfers to Israel had been paused in response to escalating civilian casualties in Gaza during the Israeli military campaign launched in October 2023.

“Despite the public-facing suspension, the UK has continued to ship weapons-grade munitions to Israel, including components with offensive capabilities,” the report stated.

The continued flow of arms has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and pro-Palestinian advocates, who say the UK government is complicit in violence against civilians.

The UK Department for Business and Trade, which oversees arms exports, has yet to respond publicly to the report’s allegations. Officials had previously said all export licenses were under review and that the government remained committed to upholding international humanitarian law.