THE Labour government approved £10.9 million in arms exports to Israel in its first three months in office, analysis of arms export licensing data revealed today.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) said the new data from July to September 2024 showed a large increase in arms exports compared with the first half of the year.

The biggest single issue licence awarded was worth £7.2m, and for “technology for submarines.”

A footnote said this was for “marketing and promotional purposes, including demonstration to potential customers, temporary exhibitions.”

CAAT added that the £10.9m figure only includes individual licences, with the data also showing that Labour approved an open licence — which does not show financial figures once granted — for “components for combat aircraft.”

The campaign group estimates that Britain has approved or delivered at least £100m in military equipment to the country since the start of Israel’s genocide.

CAAT spokeswoman Emily Apple said: “It appears that a Labour government has made zero difference to arms dealers profiting from war crimes and human rights abuses.

“Despite the government’s admission that Israel is not committed to upholding international humanitarian law, it has authorised millions of pounds of military equipment to Israel, directly supporting its genocide against Palestinian people and supporting Israel’s domestic arms industry.

“These figures show that this government is deeply complicit in genocide and human rights abuses. Labour promised change — but it is business as usual for arms dealers.

“If our government refuses to act, it is down to all of us to take action against this vile trade and ensure that both politicians and the arms companies are held accountable and face the consequences of their actions.”

Stop the War convener Lindsey German added: “The extent of these arms sales underlines what a tiny fraction was the suspension of just 30 licences to Israel last September.

“And that the beneficiaries of war will always be the arms companies, never ordinary working people.

“Labour ministers continue to be complicit in the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza and we will not stop demanding the UK stops arming Israel and for an end to the political relationship with a genocidal state that has seen so many MPs, including the Foreign Secretary, receive massive donations from the pro-Israel lobby.”

The Foreign Office was contacted for comment.