Exclusive: Peer meet Israeli officials and business leaders on visit that had no support from ministers

One of Austin’s meetings was with Rafael, an Israeli arms company which acquired Pearson Engineering of the UK in September 2022.

As well as the Iron Dome air defence system, Rafael develops Spike missiles that appear to have been used by the Israel Defense Forces against targets including a convoy of ambulances in November 2023.

Experts told the Times and the BBC that the missiles were used in an IDF drone strike in April 2024 that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, including three British citizens.