UK won't say if arms export licences to Israel flagged over concerns were revoked

The UK government won't say whether it has revoked licences for the export of arms to Israel flagged in an internal review as “most likely” to be used by the Israeli army in its Gaza offensive.

The Department for Business and Trade also declined to say if UK companies holding those licences had actually sent any items to Israel, including components for combat aircraft, since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October.

Department officials said they could not provide information on individual licences or applications to be able to answer MEE's questions, and that they don't publish detailed information about actual exports that are sent.

Concerns over the licences were first raised by a coalition of NGOs who called on the UK government last week to explain how it knows that British-made weapons have not been delivered to Israel in the past five months.

The groups said the lack of answers this week once again leaves the public in the dark about the role that UK-made arms may be playing in the war in Gaza.

Read more: UK won't say if arms export licences to Israel flagged over concerns were revoked