High court rejects Palestinian rights groups’ claim UK illegally arming Israel with F-35 parts
The judges stated the case concerned whether the court could mandate Britain’s withdrawal from a vital F-35 programme, not the UK’s supply of arms to Israel
The High Court in London rejected a legal challenge on Monday, brought by a Palestinian rights group, seeking to block the UK from supplying components for Israeli F-35 fighter jets.
Israel has used the jets to devastating effect in its bombardment of Gaza.
Both sides have been accused of atrocities during a conflict that has killed tens of thousands – the vast majority of them Palestinian civilians, according to figures the United Nations deems reliable.
The UK government suspended some export licences for military equipment after concluding there was a risk Israel could be breaching international humanitarian law but made an exemption for some parts for Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jets.
In its claim to the High Court, rights group Al-Haq called for a judicial review, saying the “carve out” was unlawful and alleging the government decision was in breach of Britain’s obligations under international law, including the Geneva Convention.
It was supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others in its case.