Exports of military equipment from the UK to Israel are much greater than official figures show, according to documents seen by i.

The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) states the value of UK military sales to Israel between 2022 and 2023 totalled £60.2m.

However, data obtained by i through Freedom of Information requests (FOI) reveals indirect routes by which the UK has helped to arm Israel in the period before and immediately after the Hamas attacks on 7 October, 2023. It shows that in 2022 and 2023, the UK approved an additional £51.6m of military exports to Israel via the United States, using what are known as “third-party” or incorporation licences.

These “third-party” arms permits allow UK-based defence companies to legally ship components to US arms manufacturers, which then assemble the parts into complete weapons systems sold to Israel.

Campaigners argue these “third-party” licences mask the true value of the Government’s military contracts with Israel and have criticised the lack of transparency in the arms exports system.

These licences are perfectly legal under UK law and according to the Government’s criteria, arms licences typically remain open for two years. The UK government imposed a partial arms suspension 2 September, 2024.

The lion’s share of these indirect licences were for “launching equipment munitions” and aero-engine components.

The Israeli government says it requires military imports for self-defence purposes while it is engaged in an ongoing conflict with Iran and Hezbollah following the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October which killed 1,200. Since then, 43,000 have been killed in IDF operations in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Oliver Feeley-Sprague, Amnesty International UK’s military, security, and police director called for this “workaround” to be closed.

He said: “It’s the international weapons equivalent of a “click-and-collect” delivery system, where goods reach the customer through an indirect route.”

Brian Leishman MP for Alloa and Grangemouth said: “These revelations are more than concerning and highlight why we must cease all arms sales to Israel. The Government’s own assessments have already raised serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.”

Sir Keir Starmer has made it clear that he believed a total ban on arms sales to Israel would be the “wrong position”.

Speaking in October after Iran launched its second large rocket attack on Israel, the Prime Minister said: “Banning all sales would mean none for defensive purposes… and days after a huge attack by Iran into Israel would be a wrong position for this Government and I will not take it.”

FOI data reveals that 20 major UK defence companies – including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Raytheon Systems Ltd – have used incorporation licences to export weapon components to the US, listing Israel as the “end-user destination.”

Amnesty International claims M109 Howitzers – which are partly manufactured by BAE Systems – have been used by the Israeli Defence Forces to launch white phosphorus munitions into Gaza. However, i has not independently verified this claim. BAE Systems told i that it does do not manufacture white phosphorous, and does not sell military equipment directly to Israel.

There were also an additional £113m in arms licences where Israel was labelled as a possible authorised end user. This included two licences worth £97m in parts for a combat aircraft, where Israel was among 16 Western countries that was permitted by the UK Government to receive the components. These licences remained open until at least 1 September.

BAE Systems has also previously provided munitions launching systems for F-16 fighter jets using “third-party” licences to Israel via the US, while they also supply control computers for F-15 fighter jets which are fully manufactured by Boeing. The Israeli ministry of defence (MoD) on Thursday said it had signed a deal with the US for an additional 25 F-15 fighters.

A BAE Systems spokesperson, told i: “We do not currently sell military equipment directly to the Government of Israel, nor do we have any operations or employees in Israel or Gaza. Our current sales include software licences and diagnostic tools.” Rolls-Royce told i it provides “engines and power solutions”, adding that they “abide by all applicable export control and sanctions laws.”

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Raytheon Systems Ltd was contacted for comment but did not respond.

As well as the Government excluding the value of arms routed through third party-countries to Israel such as the US in its official statistics, it also does not include the unrestricted sales to Israel of components for its F-35 fighter jet programme.

The UK Government has publicly stated the licence to sell F-35 fighter jet parts was not closed under the partial arms embargo, citing how it would disrupt the “global supply of the aircraft including its broader strategic role in Nato and in our support to Ukraine”.

FOI requests reveal the UK also sent 34 shipments of F-35 spare parts to Israel from 2016 to 2023, including 19 shipments between 2022 and 2023.

According to the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) the F-35 programme accounted for £336m in component exports between 2016 and 2023.

Sam Perlo-Freeman, a research co-ordinator at CAAT, commented on the UK’s involvement: “The UK Government claims to want a ceasefire, but we see more evidence of the UK’s involvement in Israel’s operations in Gaza and Lebanon – not only through arms sales but also through direct military support.”

A Department of Business and Trade spokesperson said: “We have suspended export licences to Israel where they relate to use in military operations in Gaza. Our case-by-case assessment includes both direct exports and exports through third countries where Israel is an end user.”