UK Sanctions on Israel Do Not Revoke Arms Export Licenses, Report Says

By edisonreed // 2026-09-26

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The United Kingdom's sanctions package against Israel, announced earlier this month in response to Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, has not resulted in the cancellation or blocking of any arms export licenses, according to a report published on September 25 by Declassified UK. The measures, announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, included a ban on trade with illegal settlements and a pledge to reject or cancel export licenses for arms and other items that materially contribute to the occupation. The sanctions followed Israel's publication of tenders for more than 1,200 housing units in the E1 settlement project in occupied East Jerusalem [1]. According to Declassified UK, however, no arms export licenses have been canceled or blocked since the measures took effect. The report's findings raise questions about whether the sanctions have altered the practical flow of British military equipment to Israel, a question that has drawn scrutiny from legal experts, advocacy groups, and several members of Parliament since the announcement [2].

Miliband Described Measures as "Double Lock" Against Arms Sales

Miliband told Parliament that the measures would create a double lock against arms sales to Israel, describing them as going further than former Prime Minister Keir Starmer's 2024 decision to suspend 30 of approximately 350 arms export licenses. At the time of the 2024 suspension, legal experts and human rights groups had argued that the limited scope of the ban left most military exports untouched [3]. The UK Department for Business and Trade acknowledged last week that no additional licenses had been revoked or suspended since September 8, when the sanctions were announced. The department said this was largely because licenses for items that might materially contribute to the occupation had already been suspended earlier in response to Israel's conduct during the Gaza conflict [4]. The government's position is that the earlier suspensions covered the categories of equipment that the new measures would have targeted, and therefore no further action was required. Critics have disputed that characterization, pointing to specific categories of equipment that remain licensed for export under existing exemptions [2].

Report Cites Loopholes for F-35 and Trainer Aircraft Components

According to Declassified UK, UK arms exports to Israel continue through several exemptions, including provisions allowing re-export to a third country and the export of military-grade goods for civilian use. The report stated that body armor and similar protective equipment fall under the latter category and remain exportable under current rules [2]. The report also stated that the UK continues to produce fighter jet components for global spares pools that Israel accesses for its F-35 warplanes. These components are manufactured as part of a multinational supply chain and are not designated as direct exports to Israel, even though Israeli aircraft draw on the same pool. The arrangement has been a subject of debate in Parliament, with the government maintaining that the parts are not used in Gaza and do not materially contribute to the occupation [5]. The exemption, according to the report, also allows the UK to export parts for M-346 trainer aircraft that Israel uses to train air force pilots. The Foreign Office previously acknowledged that Israel's M-346 trainer aircraft are used to train Israeli Air Force fast-jet pilots and facilitate the development of an offensive capacity, according to the report. The government's position is that the trainer components themselves do not constitute a direct contribution to operations in Gaza or the occupation, a distinction that critics have challenged [5]. Declassified UK concluded that "the sanctions have not gone nearly far enough to halt or reduce the flow of weapons from the UK to Israel" [6].

Critics Say Sanctions Lack Concrete Consequences

Dearbhla Minogue, a lawyer from the Global Legal Action Network, said the measures appeared to mean no concrete consequences for Israel after the government recognized the likelihood of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and what it terms Israeli terrorism. Minogue said the government should acknowledge that Israel may be committing genocide in Gaza and do everything in its power to prevent Israel from completing what it started [7]. Martin Butcher, Oxfam's policy advisor on arms and conflict, said the UK's sale of all F-35 and trainer aircraft components to Israel must stop immediately. Butcher's statement echoed concerns raised by more than 130 lawyers, former judges, and legal academics who signed a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer warning that the sanctions fail to meet the UK's obligations under international law [7]. Emily Apple of the Campaign Against Arms Trade called the sanctions a smokescreen to appease voters and said business is still booming for UK and Israeli arms companies. Apple stated that the government has again failed to uphold international law and failed the Palestinian people [8]. The criticisms came as a YouGov survey found that a majority of British adults approved of the settlement ban, with Green and Labour voters backing the sanctions most strongly [9].

UK Arms Exports to Israel Continue Despite Sanctions

The Gaza Health Ministry tally states that nearly 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombing and other actions since 2023, with independent estimates reaching into the hundreds of thousands, according to the Declassified UK report. The humanitarian toll has been cited by government ministers, including Louise Haigh, who said the UK will "no longer stand by" while "innocent children are killed in Gaza" [10]. The UK government maintains that no additional licenses need revocation because relevant items were already suspended. The dispute continues over whether the announced measures have altered arms exports to Israel in practice. Declassified UK concluded that the sanctions have not gone nearly far enough to halt or reduce the flow of weapons from the UK to Israel [6].

References

"UK announces sanctions on West Bank settlements prompting furious Israeli response". BBC. September 8, 2026.
Jonathan Cook. "Britain's settlement trade ban is cosmetic. For it to work, it must sanction Israel". Middle East Eye. September 11, 2026.
Peter Oborne. "Ed Miliband is tearing up the script to become the UK's most formidable foreign secretary in decades". Middle East Eye. September 7, 2026.
Daniel Tester. "Sanctions on Israeli settlements: Here's what Europe is saying and doing". Middle East Eye. September 9, 2026.
Elis Gjevori. "What will Britain's new sanctions on Israeli settlements actually target?". Middle East Eye. September 8, 2026.
Tom Blackburn. "'Symbolic' UK sanctions on Israel aim to avoid Washington's wrath". Middle East Eye. September 15, 2026.
"Over 130 lawyers warn UK sanctions on Israeli settlements don't go far enough". Middle East Eye. September 15, 2026.
"Palestine Action co-founder blasts UK sanctions on Israel as 'symbolic' and 'ineffective'". Middle East Eye. September 8, 2026.
"Majority of British adults approve of settlement ban, YouGov survey says". Middle East Eye. September 10, 2026.
Imran Mulla. "Senior minister says UK will 'no longer' stand by while 'innocent children are killed in Gaza'". Middle East Eye. September 16, 2026.

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