UK quietly approves new military export licenses to 'Israel'

• UK approved two new military export licenses worth £20.5 million
• One license covers targeting equipment despite earlier Gaza-related restrictions
• Campaign Against Arms Trade warns of diversion risks to the 'Israeli' military

The United Kingdom’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has approved two new military export licenses to 'Israel' worth a combined £20.5 million, according to an analysis by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT).

The most significant approval is an £8.7 million Open Individual Export Licence for “components and technology for targeting equipment,” a category previously suspended by the British government over concerns the equipment could be used in Gaza.

A second license covers components and technology linked to the M-346 Lead-In Fighter Trainer aircraft, used to train 'Israeli' pilots before operating F-16 and F-35 fighter jets in missions over Gaza and Lebanon.

UK defends approval

Following criticism over the licenses, the Department for Business and Trade said the targeting equipment license was intended for re-export purposes and that the government of 'Israel' was “not an end-user or ultimate end-user.”

Officials said the approval remained consistent with existing UK restrictions.

However, watchdog groups warned that military equipment transferred through 'Israel' could still be diverted to the 'Israeli' military in violation of export conditions.

CAAT cited concerns over previous cases involving alleged unauthorized transfers.

Timing of licenses

The timing of these new licenses raises serious questions about the transparency of UK arms policy.

Just last week, during an exclusive interview with Roya News English, UK Minister for Defense Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard assured that the government had already completed a full review and suspended 'all' arms exports that risked being used in Gaza.

He was emphatic, stating, 'We were very clear that we would suspend all those arms exports, and we have done that.'

Yet, today’s revelation of over £20 million in new licenses - including the exact 'targeting equipment' previously deemed too risky - suggests a massive gap between the Minister's public assurances and the reality of the UK’s continued military support for 'Israel'.

Questions over military equipment transfers

In March, an investigation reported that a UK subsidiary owned by 'Israeli' arms company Elbit Systems shipped drone components to 'Israel' instead of Romania, despite export conditions requiring retransfers to the European country.

Romania reportedly threatened to cancel the contract before deliveries resumed.

The report also referenced a Belgian investigation involving military aircraft components shipped from the UK by US aerospace company Moog. Belgian authorities seized the shipment after claims it was headed to 'Israel' under an export license describing the items as aircraft-related rather than military hardware.

Belgium later opened a criminal investigation into the transfer.

Watchdog criticizes UK policy

CAAT Research Coordinator Sam Perlo-Freeman accused the UK government of continuing to support what he described as 'Israel’s' “genocidal assaults” while remaining within the technical limits of British export policy.

He warned there was a “grave risk” that targeting equipment approved for re-export could ultimately be diverted for use by the 'Israeli' military in Palestine.

Perlo-Freeman also criticized the UK’s reliance on end-user guarantees, arguing that British authorities do not actively verify whether exported military equipment reaches its declared destination.