British restrictions on military exports to Israel are expanding significantly, in a move that reflects an increasing tendency to scrutinize equipment that may be used in military operations in the Gaza Strip, amid concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law.
In this context, a report by journalist Ram Brands on the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation “Kan”, based on the London newspaper “Jewish Chronicle”, reported that the British government has suspended or rejected about 80 licenses to export military components during the last two years. This number is high compared to about 30 licenses that were suspended when the first restrictions were imposed in September 2024, and since then more than 50 new applications have been rejected.
These licenses are subject to continuous reviews to ensure that their components are not used in the fighting in Gaza. The Minister of Middle Eastern Affairs, Stephen Doty, explained that the new restrictions constitute what he described as a “double lock” on exports, as requests are subject to careful review regarding the possible use of the equipment in Gaza, as well as the extent of their contribution to perpetuating the status quo in the occupied Palestinian territories, while continuing to approve requests that meet strategic criteria.
On the other hand, reports published by the “Declassified UK” website indicated that the new procedures have not resulted in the suspension or cancellation of additional licenses since September 8, based on government data submitted to Parliament stating that the majority of equipment materially related to operations related to the occupation was already covered by the previous restrictions.
Despite these restrictions, essential components continue to reach Israel via alternative routes; Most notably spare parts for the international F-35 fighter program, and parts for training aircraft. London excludes components sent to the global stockpile of the F-35 program to avoid harming British national security and the security of its allies, despite Doty’s confirmation of stopping direct exports of these components to Israel. British-made spare parts for the M-346 training aircraft also arrive directly to Israel for use in training Air Force pilots before they move to advanced fighters, according to the government, which believes that these components are not used directly in Gaza. These exceptions have sparked sharp criticism from human rights organizations and British representatives demanding a comprehensive ban on arms exports.
On a related level, these developments are consistent with broader British measures announced last September targeting trade related to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including efforts to prevent the import of their products and take measures against parties involved in their expansion. This step came in coordination with 11 other countries, including France and Canada, in light of the escalation of violence in the West Bank and the progress of the “E1” project. In Israeli response, Tel Aviv took countermeasures that included closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem, according to data from the House of Commons Library.
On a broader European scale, additional restrictions on military cooperation have emerged; The new Israeli submarine, “Ahi Drakon,” arrived in Israel from Germany after a trip that was postponed for months. The submarine faced refusal from Norway and Denmark to allow it to dock in their territorial waters during the testing phase despite flying the German flag, in addition to the refusal of countries such as France and Canada to grant Germany licenses to export its own components, which required the installation of alternative components manufactured in Israel in preparation for sailing to Haifa.
These data confirm that British and European restrictions have now gone beyond individual shipments, to include licenses for military components, settlement trade, and supply chains for major defense programmes, at a time when exceptions such as the F-35 program remain the subject of ongoing debate about the effectiveness of these policies and their actual impact.
