Other06 October, 20253 min read
UK Government Fuels Israel’s Genocide by Exporting Record Arms in 2025
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
UK arms exports to Israel reached a record high value in 2025, nearly £1 million. Record arms shipments occurred despite UK suspending 29 export licenses in September 2024.
5 outlets told this the same way.
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UK Arms Exports to Israel 2025
Investigations in 2025 report that UK arms exports to Israel hit record levels, even as licenses were suspended and genocide allegations mounted. ABNA English reports a surge to record levels, citing Israeli tax authority data that shows nearly £1 million (about $135 million) in UK munitions to Israeli-controlled ports in the first nine months of 2025. June alone saw shipments including bombs, grenades, missiles, and ammunition.
“In 2025, UK arms exports to Israel have surged to record levels despite existing restrictions and allegations of genocide.”
Channel 4 News and Channel 4 describe an investigation into Israel’s customs data from January 2022 to September 2025 that found ongoing shipments of military-related goods from the UK. These goods include grenade launchers, explosives, mortar and missile components, and targeting equipment.
This continued despite UK assurances that it does not export bombs or ammunition for use by Israeli forces in Gaza or the West Bank. Both outlets add that while 29 export licenses were suspended since September 2024, hundreds of licenses remain active.
UK Arms Exports to Israel
UK officials claim they do not export bombs or ammunition for use by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza or the West Bank. However, customs data reveals ongoing shipments of military-related items, including grenade launchers and explosives. Channel 4 News and Channel 4 highlight this contradiction, noting that hundreds of export licenses remain active despite 29 suspensions since September 2024.
ABNA English reports that as of July 2025, 347 UK arms export licenses to Israel are still active, with 167 of them being military licenses. Additionally, shipments in 2025 have more than doubled compared to any of the previous three years.
Coverage of Genocide Allegations
The question of genocide looms large in the coverage. Channel 4 News reports that the investigation followed a UN Commission of Inquiry report accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza and urging states to halt arms sales that could enable those acts. Channel 4 uses almost identical language in its reporting.
“This investigation follows a UN Commission of Inquiry report accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza, urging countries to halt arms sales that could be used in such actions.”
ABNA English frames the surge as proceeding despite allegations of genocide. Both Channel 4 outlets also report Israel’s rejection of the UN findings as biased, underscoring the contested political terrain around continued UK exports.
Military Shipment Transparency Issues
Opacity around the shipments is a recurring theme. Channel 4 News and Channel 4 report that both the UK and Israeli governments declined to provide detailed information about specific shipments, citing confidentiality and broad customs categories that may include non-lethal items.
ABNA English likewise notes the data’s limits, stating it does not clarify the final recipients or if the weapons were re-exported. Even with these caveats, the Channel 4 outlets detail military-related categories—grenade launchers, explosives, and missile components—while ABNA stresses that June shipments included bombs, grenades, missiles, and ammunition.
UK Military Exports Scrutiny
Reports depict a UK export posture under intense scrutiny. Shipments of military-related goods continued through 2025 amid genocide accusations by a UN inquiry. Licenses were suspended but still numerous.
“The findings raise questions about the extent of UK arms exports to Israel amid ongoing conflict and international scrutiny.”
There is persistent data opacity surrounding these exports. Channel 4 News concludes that the findings raise questions about the extent of UK arms exports during the conflict. Channel 4 also stresses the context of allegations of serious human rights violations.
ABNA English highlights record levels of exports in 2025 and a year-on-year doubling compared to prior years. The combined narratives reveal an unresolved policy tension between the UK’s stated restrictions and the documented flow of military-linked items to Israel.