Thousands of people in Gaza have been killed or maimed by arms manufactured in part by British workers.
Israel’s gigantic war machine requires a constant re-supply of a huge range of hi-tech weaponry – far more than it can produce. It relies particularly on the US, UK and Germany to keep its wars going.
There are 75 companies in Britain still supplying arms or components, despite the government’s announcement in September 2024 that it would restrict the trade. It was responding to public concern at British involvement in the genocide but it was a largely empty gesture. It only admitted two years later that the restrictions applied only to government-directed exports and not to private company sales.
So out of 380 military export licences to Israel approved in 2024, just 30 were suspended. Those unaffected included the most deadly: the F-35 Lightning “stealth” fighter jets that cost £60 million each and carry 2000-lb bombs that can flatten multi-storey buildings. UK-made parts contribute 15% of this cost. The bomb’s release cables are made by L3Harris in Brighton.
On the day the government made its announcement an F-35 attacked a supposed “safe zone” in Gaza’s Al-Mawasi area, killing 90 people.
Britain itself has 48 of these lethal machines, most based at RAF Marham in Norfolk with stints on the navy’s two aircraft carriers. The USAF has F-35s based at Lakenheath in Suffolk. They have been deeply involved in the war against Iran, though the government insists in only defensive capacities such as shooting down drones and missiles.
Among the F-35 contractors is Britain’s biggest arms supplier BAE Systems, which also makes components for two other US fighter jets, the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon. BAE supplies Israel with howitzers. Israel used howitzers to fire white phosphorus shells over Gaza City earlier this year.
Elbit Systems is Israel’s biggest arms company and has 16 subsidiary sites in the UK. Elbit has become known as the main target of Palestine Action protesters, who have faced long jail sentences for their sabotage raids. Among Elbit products made here is the Hermes drone that can target individuals for assassination.
Another deadly aircraft is the Boeing Apache helicopter gunship – made famous by the Vietnam film Apocalypse Now. Augusta Westland, based in Yeovil, makes components.
The firm is a subsidiary of the Italian Leonardo group, which employs 1,400 people in the UK. Its Edinburgh factory also makes parts for the F-35; staff have been working overtime to keep the planes in the air.
The Apache carries Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, which killed Israelis as well as Palestinians on October 7, 2023 when fired at the Hamas fighters taking hostages from the Nova music festival. They were roasted alive. Parts for the missile are made by Teledyne Defence and Space in Shipley, Yorkshire.
In September, the government announced additional restrictions on arms exports as part of its package against the West Bank settlements.
There will now be a ban on arms (and other services) “that materially contribute to the occupation”. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband added that the ban will remain in place as long as the occupation exists. However work on the F-35 parts will carry on.
This deadly trade is carried on through close relationships between the UK government, top officials in the Ministry of Defence and military top brass with their Israeli counterparts.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Britain’s Chief of the Defence Staff, made a secret trip to Tel Aviv in 2024 to confer with Israel’s then Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi to discuss “future operations in the region”. Other top-level officers have regular contact.
The government’s dishonesty goes further than refusing to acknowledge the extent of its arms supplies. It makes its support for a Palestinian state, and its criticisms of the West Bank settlers, meaningless.
The UK could seriously impact Israel’s ability to wage war if it did stop the flow of arms. It has a weapon in its hands it could use to pressure Israel but so far it has refused to fully use it.
