Zack Polanski reacts to ‘horrific’ increase in UK-Israel trade during Gaza genocide
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has slammed the Labour government over new data revealing that UK trade with Israel increased during the genocide in Gaza.
Between June 2024 and June 2025, trade in goods and services between the two countries increased by £218m (3.7 percent) to £6.2bn ($8.15bn), according to data published last Friday by the Department for Business and Trade.
Labour entered government in July 2024, just after the period covered in the data began.
“People will be appalled to see that not only have we not stopped arms licences, we’re engaging in everyday business,” Polanski told Middle East Eye.
“It is totally unconscionable to be treating Israel as everyday business, and these figures showing how we continue to trade with them are appalling,” he added.
“Strengthening our trade relationship with an apartheid state as they have committed an active genocide is horrific.”
‘Strengthening our trade relationship with an apartheid state as they have committed an active genocide is horrific’
– Zack Polanski, Green leader
The Green leader is a member of the London Assembly and recently won his party’s leadership election with over 80 percent of the vote.
Although Britain halted talks on a new free trade agreement with Israel earlier this year, new data revealed that overall exports from Britain to Israel increased by £342m (10.5 percent) to £3.6bn, with imports increasing by £124m (4.6 percent) to £2.6bn.
Polanski said: “The UK government still hasn’t banned the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, meaning we are actively profiting from proceeds of crime.
“The government needs to implement that ban immediately.
“Boycott, divestment and sanctions played a really important part in [the global movement against] apartheid South Africa and have an important role to play with this genocidal regime.”
Meanwhile Labour MP Kim Johnson told MEE: “To continue deepening our economic ties instead of using our influence to demand an end to the violence and breaches of international law is simply shocking.
“We already have the legal means to stop trade with illegal Israeli settlements – goods produced on stolen Palestinian land are, in effect, the proceeds of crime.”
Johnson added: “The question is not whether we can act, but why this government has not been and won’t. The UK should be enforcing international law, not turning a blind eye to it.
“We have both the tools and the mechanisms to restrict trade from illegal settlements – so why are they not being used?”
Israel was Britain’s 42nd largest trading partner during the period covered by the latest government data.
Britain provided arms and intelligence from surveillance flights over Gaza to Israel throughout its genocide in Gaza, despite an apparent deterioration in diplomatic relations over the last year.
Last September, the newly elected Labour government suspended around 30 export licences for UK-made arms, although UK-made F-35 components sent to a global F-35 pool, which could end up in Israel, were exempted.
UK-made F-35 components make up 15 percent of each aircraft, one of the world’s most sophisticated fighter jets, which Israel has used extensively in its campaign in Gaza, as well as in Lebanon and more recently in Iran.
