Green Party leader Zack Polanski has strongly criticized the Labour government following the release of new data showing a significant increase in UK trade with Israel during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. According to figures published by the Department for Business and Trade, trade in goods and services between the UK and Israel rose by £218 million (3.7 percent) to £6.2 billion ($8.15 billion) between June 2024 and June 2025. The Labour government, which took office in July 2024, has faced backlash for its continued economic ties with Israel despite the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Polanski, who recently secured over 80 percent of the vote in his party’s leadership election, described the situation as ‘totally unconscionable,’ emphasizing that the UK is ‘engaging in everyday business’ with an ‘apartheid state’ committing genocide. He called for an immediate ban on imports of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, labeling them as ‘proceeds of crime.’ Polanski also highlighted the importance of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) as tools to pressure Israel, drawing parallels to the global movement against apartheid South Africa. Labour MP Kim Johnson echoed these sentiments, expressing shock at the UK’s deepening economic ties with Israel instead of leveraging its influence to demand an end to the violence and breaches of international law. Johnson questioned the government’s inaction, stating that the UK has both the legal means and mechanisms to restrict trade from illegal settlements. Despite the UK halting talks on a new free trade agreement with Israel earlier this year, exports from Britain to Israel increased by £342 million (10.5 percent) to £3.6 billion, while imports rose by £124 million (4.6 percent) to £2.6 billion. The UK has also been accused of providing arms and intelligence to Israel, including components for F-35 fighter jets, which Israel has used extensively in its military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The Labour government suspended around 30 export licences for UK-made arms last September, but F-35 components sent to a global pool, which could end up in Israel, were exempted. Middle East Eye, known for its independent coverage of the Middle East, has provided detailed analysis of these developments.
Zack Polanski reacts to ‘horrific’ increase in UK-Israel trade during Gaza genocide
