UK collaboration with Israel sparks heated Commons debate

A heated debate in the House of Commons has reignited concerns over the UK’s military collaboration with Israel, as MPs from across the political spectrum questioned arms exports, intelligence-sharing, and potential legal implications amid escalating violence in Gaza.

The debate was led by Shockat Adam MP, who accused the UK Government of complicity in Israeli military actions, particularly in light of airstrikes that reportedly killed over 400 people overnight. He opened his speech by recalling how he had awoken before dawn to prepare for fasting, only to hear news of yet another “violation of yet another peace deal”, as Israeli forces “rained down bombs on makeshift shelters, slaughtering men, women and children.”

Adam posed a direct challenge to the Government, demanding transparency on the UK’s role:

“The question is this: have we provided those lethal bombs, or the parts for the aircraft that are dropping them, and has our intelligence-sharing led to the slaughter of a further 400 people last night?”

Rejecting what he described as the Government’s “empty assurances”, Adam criticised the UK’s reluctance to take stronger action:

“We have not even summoned the Israeli ambassador to express our concerns or contemplated economic sanctions, because, in the words of our Foreign Secretary: ‘Israel remains an important ally. We have an important trading relationship, worth £6.1 billion last year and involving 38,000 British jobs. I am sorry; any discussion of sanctions is just not correct.’”

Adam dismissed the Government’s position as prioritising economic benefits over human lives, stating:

“I say to the family of the children who were burned alive last night that I am sorry; the Government say that we cannot afford to lose the money.”

Imran Hussain MP supported Adam’s criticisms, highlighting what he called “a pattern of UK complicity in Israeli war crimes.” He stated:

“The silence of the international community is unacceptable. It is not a choice to act. The UK Government must meet its legal obligations by imposing immediate sanctions on Israel.”

Several MPs pointed to UK arms exports, particularly the sale of spare parts for F-35 fighter jets, as evidence of complicity. According to Campaign Against Arms Trade, an estimated £100 million worth of military equipment has been approved for export to Israel.

Adam argued that “Israeli airstrikes would simply not be possible without British components,” adding that since the UK’s partial suspension of arms exports in September 2024, 34 new licences have been approved, including for “essential aircraft components.”

Siân Berry MP pressed the Government on whether UK-made parts had been used in the latest bombings, stating:

“The Minister must confirm whether any of those warplanes were involved in the attack on Gaza last night. Will he confirm whether UK-made parts enabled any of the bombings in recent days? If they did, will he acknowledge the UK’s direct role in the official collapse of an already fragile ceasefire?”

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard pushed back against claims of complicity but acknowledged concerns over Israeli actions:

“The reported civilian casualties resulting from Israel’s actions are appalling. We do not want to see a return to fighting. More bloodshed is in no one’s interest.”

However, he defended UK military ties with Israel, insisting that they were aimed at “supporting the security of an important partner and reducing tensions in the wider region.”

Pollard confirmed that RAF surveillance flights over Gaza were ongoing but insisted that they were solely for hostage rescue operations, stating:

“These flights are solely in support of hostage rescue. Only information related to hostage rescue can be passed to the relevant authority for hostage rescue. We will pass information only if we are satisfied that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law.”

He also acknowledged that the Government had suspended certain arms exports but defended the continued export of F-35 components, stating that withdrawing from the F-35 programme would “have implications for international peace and security.”

Many MPs accused the Government of double standards, comparing its stance on Israel to its treatment of other conflict zones.

Jeremy Corbyn MP pointed out that the UK had continued to provide military support to Israel even after the International Court of Justice ruled that genocide was “plausible” in Gaza. He stated:

“If we, as a country, knowingly accept that Israel is in breach of international law and continue to provide it with the weapons with which people can be killed in Gaza, then we ourselves, as a country, also become complicit in breaches of international law.”

Adnan Hussain MP warned that the UK’s refusal to act would be “watched carefully by rogue states such as Russia”, who might use it as justification for their own violations of international law.

Brian Leishman MP went further, describing the UK as “arming and enabling a regime that conducts annexation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

In response, Luke Akehurst MP defended UK support for Israel, arguing that British-made F-35 components were being used for defensive operations against Iranian attacks rather than for strikes on Gaza. He stated:

“Israel needs to use that platform to defend itself, given that it has faced two of the largest barrages of weapons fired at civilian targets since World War Two.”

MPs also demanded answers on the use of UK military bases, particularly RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and facilities in Gibraltar, which have been linked to UK-Israel military cooperation.

Adam raised suspicions about military flights and potential involvement in Israeli operations, asking:

“What exactly is going on at RAF Akrotiri? What was it that the Prime Minister on his visit there said he could not talk about, but there was lots of it going on?”

Pollard dismissed claims that UK bases were being used for direct military operations, insisting that any UK involvement was strictly within legal limits.

The Debate Continues

The Commons debate exposed deep divisions in Parliament over the UK’s military relationship with Israel. While some MPs called for an immediate suspension of all arms sales, others defended continued cooperation, arguing that Israel remained a key ally facing significant security threats.

Image Jerry Gunner, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.