A group of nonprofits has faced a setback in their legal attempt to stop the UK from exporting fighter jet components to Israel. On Monday, judges declared that decisions around this "acutely sensitive and political issue" should rest with the government, not the courts.
The British government had initially suspended arms sales to Israel in September of the previous year, halting 30 out of 350 active licenses after a review suggested potential violations of international humanitarian law involving weapons and equipment sales. However, the government retained licenses for equipment not purportedly used in the conflict in Gaza, as well as continuing support for components related to a multinational undertaking on F-35 combat aircraft production, which it deemed "integral to international security."
The nonprofits involved include Al-Haq, a Palestinian rights organization, and the Global Legal Action Network based in London, which champions human rights and environmental issues. Their legal challenge was bolstered by organizations like Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Human Rights Watch.
During a recent four-day hearing in the High Court of England and Wales, the representatives for these charities argued that supplying F-35 parts to Israel violated Britain’s obligations under the Geneva Conventions, particularly in preventing genocide and ensuring that arms are not utilized in assaults against civilians.
However, the High Court ultimately ruled on Monday that it lacked the jurisdiction to ascertain whether Israel's actions in Gaza constituted genocide or war crimes, stating that the decisions regarding the UK's ongoing involvement in the F-35 program were exclusively within the purview of government ministers.
