UK Official: Sanctions on Israel Resulted in No New Revocations of Weapons Licenses
Disclosures to Parliament show no Israeli arms export licences were revoked or suspended, despite the new restrictions and continued defence contracts.
- On Thursday, parliamentary disclosures revealed the UK government's new sanctions regime has not resulted in any arms export license revocations or suspensions since September 8, 2026.
- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced fresh measures on September 1, 2026, promising a "double lock against arms sales" to refuse applications for equipment that "materially contribute to the occupation" of Palestinian territories.
- In response to an inquiry from MP Iqbal Mohamed, the trade department officially acknowledged that "no additional licences have been revoked or suspended since 8 September 2026." This admission confirms the sanctions have not altered existing trade flows.
- Campaign Against Arms Trade media co-ordinator Emily Apple called the "double lock" a "smokescreen designed to appease voters," arguing it fails to deliver meaningful policy change while military exports continue.
- Components for F-35 fighter jets and M-346 trainer aircraft continue flowing to Israel, as officials claim these items do not "materially contribute" to the occupation or Gaza operations despite previous Foreign Office acknowledgments otherwise.
14 Articles
14 Articles
UK's new Israel sanctions haven't suspended any weapons transfers
Earlier this month, the UK government announced plans to cut off trade with Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank—including weapons shipments. But according to new disclosures made to Parliament, reported Thursday by Declassified UK, the sanctions regime has not actually led to any weapons licenses being suspended or revoked, validating warnings by some critics that the new Labour government’s effort to cut […]
UK's New Israel Sanctions Haven't Actually Suspended Any Weapons Transfers
One anti-arms trade advocate said it showed the UK's new policy toward Israel was "nothing more than a soundbite designed to appease voters, whilst failing to deliver meaningful policy change."
EXCLUSIVE: US drafted memo condemning UK over West Bank sanctions. It was never released
In early September, US officials in Jerusalem and Washington prepared a draft statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemning plans by the UK, France and Canada to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
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