UK High Court Rules F-35 jet parts exports to Israel are lawful despite humanitarian concerns
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London's High Court has ruled that the UK government's decision to continue exporting components for F-35 fighter jets to Israel is lawful, even though the court acknowledged the risk that these parts could be used in ways that breach international humanitarian law in Gaza.The legal challenge was brought by Al-Haq , a Palestinian human rights group, with support from organizations including Amnesty International, Oxfam , and Human Rights Watch. They argued that supplying F-35 parts violated Britain's obligations under international law, especially the Geneva Conventions, given evidence of civilian harm in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.The UK government had partially suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel in September 2024, following concerns about their possible use in breaches of international law. However, licenses related to F-35 components were exempted. The government defended this carve-out by citing the UK's participation in a global supply chain for the F-35, a program involving the US, Israel, and NATO partners. Officials argued that halting these exports would disrupt international security cooperation and undermine allied confidence in the UK's reliability.In their 72-page ruling, Justices Stephen Males and Karen Steyn stated that the matter was 'a highly sensitive and political question' best left to the executive branch, which is accountable to Parliament and the electorate, not the courts. The judges concluded that the UK's role in the multinational F-35 program is a matter of national and international security, and not for judicial intervention.Human rights groups expressed disappointment and are considering an appeal, but for now, the UK's exports of F-35 jet parts to Israel will continue under the current policy.
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