UK sent 110,000 bullets to 'Israel' in August despite genocide in Gaza
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A Channel 4 investigation revealed that the UK continued supplying bullets, weapons components, and F-35 fighter parts to "Israel" during its war on Gaza.
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Police clear protesters, some chained, outside of the British consulate in east Jerusalem, to call on the UK to stop providing arms to "Israel" for its war on the Gaza Strip in Qatar, Friday, August 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A new investigation by Channel 4 has revealed that the United Kingdom shipped 110,000 bullets to "Israel" in August 2025.
According to the broadcaster's analysis, the ammunition, valued at approximately £20,000 ($27,000), was part of a broader surge in UK arms exports to "Israel". In August, total exports topped £150,000, making it the second-highest monthly total since January 2022. Customs records classify the shipment under "Israel's" import codes for "bullets." Other contemporaneous exports included tank components, parts for rifles and shotguns, and a broader assortment of explosives, projectiles, and other munitions.
"Our analysis of Israel Tax Authority figures shows munitions worth around £400,000 arriving from the UK and passing through Israeli customs in June 2025 – the highest amount in a single month since available records began more than three years ago," Channel 4 reported.
Arms exports
The revelations have intensified scrutiny of Britain's arms trade and foreign policy, which critics say stand in stark contradiction to its recent recognition of Palestine.
Britain's ruling Labour Party had earlier passed a motion acknowledging the United Nations' determination that "Israel" is committing genocide in Gaza. Under heavy political and public pressure, including widespread protests, resignations, and diplomatic appeals, Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally recognized the State of Palestine in September 2025, declaring it "a step toward justice, peace, and accountability."
While the move was hailed as historic, human rights advocates denounced it as largely symbolic, arguing that recognition without sanctions or an arms embargo amounted to little more than a moral gesture. Critics said Starmer's policy revealed a widening contradiction between his rhetoric of humanitarian concern and his government's continued material and intelligence support for Israel's military operations.
Read more: UK recognition of Palestine symbolism without action: The Guardian
In September 2024, the government had suspended 30 export licences out of 350, after a review concluded there was "a clear risk that certain military exports could be utilized in violations of international humanitarian law." Yet the suspension excluded components for F-35 fighter jets, which "Israel" has heavily relied on in its airstrikes on Gaza.
Legal challenge and surveillance support
The Palestinian human rights organization al-Haq, working with the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), filed a lawsuit against the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) challenging this exemption.
They argue that by continuing to supply key components for "Israel's" F-35 fleet through a "global spares pool" mechanism, Britain is violating both domestic law and its international obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.
The UK contributes about 15% of every F-35's components, including electronics and fuselage systems. Meanwhile, separate investigations have revealed that RAF surveillance aircraft operating from Akrotiri, Cyprus, have conducted hundreds of flights over or near Gaza since December 2023.
The Ministry of Defense claims these are for "situational awareness" and captive rescue, but legal observers warn such intelligence sharing risks aiding or abetting violations of international law.
Gaza's human cost
The Channel 4 revelations coincide with a rapidly escalating death toll in Gaza. Since October 2023, Israeli strikes have killed at least 66,148 Palestinians and injured more than 168,716, according to humanitarian monitors.
UN experts and leading international NGOs have concluded that "Israel's" actions amount to genocide, citing indiscriminate bombing, forced displacement, and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid.
Despite these findings, Britain's arms trade with "Israel" remains active. Campaigners say the UK risks direct complicity in war crimes, as British-made ammunition and aircraft parts are used in bombardments that overwhelmingly target civilians.
With mounting outrage from civil society, legal experts, and faith leaders, calls for a complete and unconditional arms embargo on "Israel" are intensifying.
