Longstanding grievances over land, jurisdiction and military activity are intensifying as the island becomes increasingly exposed to regional conflicts.

A new YouGov survey finds Reform UK voters are five times more likely than Green supporters to favour nuclear retaliation after a devastating attack on Britain, exposing deep political divisions over deterrence, alliance politics and the protection of civilians.

UK imports of Israeli arms and military equipment increased by 10,589% between 2023 and 2025, according to UN trade data, prompting renewed scrutiny of Britain’s defence ties with Israel and the growing international market for technologies critics say have been developed and tested in the context of the occupation of Palestinian territories.

Here AOAV examines how Britain’s historic and contemporary military involvement, arms exports and strategic alliances across the Middle East have linked the UK, directly or indirectly, to conflicts and alleged human-rights violations across the region.

The technology company insists British data stays British. Critics say that misses the point entirely.

At the United Nations in New York, governments renewed calls for stronger civilian protection from explosive weapons in populated areas, urging that the 2022 Political Declaration move from words to action through concrete military restraint, accountability, and collaboration ahead of the 2025 San José conference.

Across Europe, governments, investors and trade unions have begun tightening restrictions on arms and financial ties with Israel—led by Spain’s full embargo and Slovenia’s symbolic ban—signalling a fragile but notable shift in the continent’s long-standing defence relations before the Gaza ceasefire of October 2025.

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) calls for the immediate release of Julian Assange ahead of his critical May 20th hearing, which is set to determine his potential extradition to the United States.

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) presents a briefing note on the impact of air strikes in Yemen over the past ten years (2014-2023).

Arms exports from the UK surged in 2022, as evidenced today in the Campaign Against Arms Trade’s (CAAT) annual report, raising concerns about its global arms trade involvement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the UK that it will be “forced to react” if it provides Ukraine with armour-piercing tank ammunition containing depleted uranium.

Action on Armed Violence analyses the impact of the Arms Trade Treaty on UK explosive weapons transfers.