LONDON, September 29, 2026 (WAFA) – The British government has revealed that it has suspended or rejected more than 80 export licenses to Israel for items that could be used by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. This move represents a tightening of London's policy regarding arms exports to Israel.
Stephen Doughty, the British Minister of State for the Middle East, stated that approximately 30 licenses were suspended when the government announced the restrictions in September 2024. Since then, more than 50 new applications for export licenses to Israel have been rejected, according to the British newspaper *The Jewish Chronicle*.
Doughty explained that the new measures approved by the government on September 8 tightened restrictions on exports to Israel. He noted the existence of what he described as a "double lock" on arms exports: licenses must now be assessed against existing criteria regarding potential violations of international humanitarian law, as well as the British government's position on the illegality of the occupation.
He stated that all licenses are subject to review and that he personally reviewed each one to ensure that the authorized exports are not used in weaponry deployed in the Gaza Strip. Doughty noted that some of the licenses being discussed publicly do not relate to weaponry but cover items such as cystic fibrosis medication and protective gear for journalists and NGOs; at the same time, he affirmed his belief that Britain "could do more" to restrict exports to Israel.
Regarding the F-35 fighter jet program, Doughty stated that British components destined for the international F-35 program remain largely exempt from restrictions. He explained that while Britain has halted direct F-35 exports to Israel, it continues to supply spare parts that feed into the program's global supply chain.
He justified the continued supply of these components based on the security interests of Britain and its allies, noting that withdrawing them from the program could have serious repercussions for the entire initiative.
In September 2024, Britain announced the suspension of approximately 30 out of roughly 350 arms export licenses to Israel. This decision followed a government review which confirmed a clear risk that certain exports could be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law.
In a related development, Emily Thornberry, Chair of the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, described the continued supply of F-35 components as a political issue and called for restrictions to ensure that British components are not used in aircraft sent to Israel. The British government confirmed that permitted licenses remain subject to strategic export licensing criteria and ongoing review; the tightening of new restrictions comes as part of a series of measures taken by London regarding Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
According to the *Jewish Chronicle*, the total number of licenses suspended or rejected by Britain since the restrictions began in September 2024 has exceeded 80—nearly three times the number suspended when the measures were first implemented.
K.T
