Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Tehran Times: Iran and the United States are ready to start new negotiations.
The source told SANA that the government calls on the SDF to engage in implementing the March 10 agreement and urges international mediators to move all negotiations to Damascus.
The source told SANA that the conference violates the commitments the Syrian government has begun implementing, including the formation of a transitional justice body and the dialogue process.
A Syrian source told SANA that the government considers this conference an attempt to internationalize Syrian affairs, invite foreign intervention, and reimpose sanctions.
A Syrian government source told SANA that the Syrian government will not participate in planned meetings with the Syrian Democratic Forces in Paris.
TASS news agency, citing a Kremlin official: Putin and Trump will meet in Alaska on August 15.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle on Zahrani - Tyre Highway.
Israeli media: Israeli Prime Minister's Office: The security cabinet has approved Netanyahu's proposal on Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.

British arms sales permits to 'Israel' drop to 13-year low: Reuters

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Reuters
  • 18 Jun 2024 12:18
3 Min Read

British arms export licenses to "Israel" drop to nearly $1 million, as worries about the legal drawbacks of supplying arms to the occupation force caution the UK.

Listen
  • x
  • British arms sales permits to 'Israel' drop to 13-year low: Reuters
    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak inspect weaponry at the Warsaw Armoured Brigade in Warsaw, Poland, on April 23, 2024. (AP)

British approval of arms export licenses to the Israeli occupation dropped sharply after the start of the war on Gaza, as the value of arms sales permits fell by more than 95%, Reuters reported. 

The current figure is a 13-year-low and is a marker of the controversy and legal troubles faced by countries providing the means for the Israeli aggression on Gaza to continue. 

Reuters acquired data from the British Department of Business and Trade's Export Control unit, as well as information provided by UK government officials, which provided the news agency with unreported and specific details on the issue. 

Though Britain does not directly engage in arms sales, it does govern the process by issuing permits allowing the UK private sector to provide military-grade systems and equipment to third parties. 

The value of these licenses dropped to $1.09 million between October 7 and December 31 last year, according to Reuters. In the same period in 2022, the British government approved nearly 20 million pounds ($25.4 million) in arms sales permits to "Israel". This includes small arms ammunition and components for combat aircraft. 

In 2017, the figure was much higher, as the British government had approved 185 million pounds, nearly $240 million, in export licenses, which included components for tanks and surface-to-air missiles. 

The British process of exporting arms to entities also involves input from government lawyers, who determine whether the sale would or could jeopardize London in international courts.

Related News

'Israel' threatens to end UK security ties if Palestine recognized

Thousands of company directors leave UK after Labour’s tax reforms: FT

The licenses approved in the aforementioned period since the start of the war on Gaza were for items listed for commercial use or non-lethal items such as body armor, military helmets, and all-wheel drive vehicles with ballistic protection. 

Read more: UK will not block arms sales to 'Israel', says UK's Cameron

A deeper dive shows continued British complicity with 'Israel'

However, The Guardian reported that in a period from October 7, 2023, and May 31, 2024, which is a period longer than that analyzed by Reuters, the UK issued over 100 arms export licenses to the Israeli occupation. 

The figures show that, of the 108 licenses, 37 were for military use and 63 for non-military purposes, potentially including telecommunications equipment for the Israeli occupation forces. Additionally, eight open licenses were granted by the UK to "Israel".

Currently, there are 345 active licenses for arms sales to "Israel", including those issued before the start of the war on Gaza on October 7. The UK Department for Business and Trade released these figures in response to what it deemed exceptional parliamentary interest.

The data show that no arms export license applications were rejected or revoked during the war on Gaza. However, Emily Apple from the Campaign Against Arms Trade pointed out that the figures lack details on the value and specific categories of the licenses, information usually provided in the quarterly arms export licenses statistics.

Moreover, the current UK government has dealt with the issue with near complete secrecy, refusing to go public with the advice of lawyers regarding the use of British-provided arms by the Israeli government. 

Read more: 600 UK officials say arming 'Israel' breaches international law

  • Britain
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Israeli war crimes
  • United Kingdom
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025
India halts $3.6B Boeing deal after Trump slaps harsh tariffs

India halts $3.6bln Boeing deal following Trump's harsh tariffs

  • Economy
  • 6 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People observe a minute of silence at the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, during a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the day an atomic bomb was dropped on Japanese southwestern city, in Nagasaki, Japan Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Nagasaki mayor warns of nuclear war on 80th anniversary of atomic bomb

Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Friday, August 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UK hires US firm for Gaza surveillance flights amid Israeli genocide

Palestinian women mourn over the body of their father, who was killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza Strip through the Zikim, Gaza City, Occupied Palestine, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Aid site massacres continue in Gaza, death toll reaches 61,369

A member of a Palestinian excavation team works in a newly discovered Roman era cemetery in the Gaza Strip, Sunday, December 11, 2022 (AP)
Arts and Culture

Paris exhibition showcases 5,000 years of Gaza history, rare artifacts

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS