Rights group loses legal bid to stop government exporting jet parts to Israel
UK’s export of fighter jet parts to Israel lawful: High Court
- A High Court challenge brought by Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq against the UK government's continued export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel has been unsuccessful.
- Al-Haq had argued that the Department for Business and Trade's decision to license these components was unlawful and risked facilitating crime amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
- The UK government had previously suspended other export licenses for weapons to Israel but maintained an exemption for F-35 parts, designating them as part of an international defence program.
- The Department for Business and Trade defended its position, asserting that the carve-out for F-35 components was consistent with international law.
- Justices ruled that the issue of withdrawing from a multilateral defense collaboration, even if components might be used in international humanitarian law violations, is a political matter for the executive and parliament, not for the courts.