Latest news with #Al-Haq


Roya News
a day ago
- Politics
- Roya News
High Court rules UK can continue supplying F-35 components to 'Israel'
A British High Court dismissed a legal challenge aimed at stopping the UK's involvement in supplying spare parts for F-35 fighter jets used by 'Israel' in its military campaign in Gaza, ruling the issue falls outside the judiciary's constitutional authority. The case, brought by Palestinian rights organization Al-Haq and the Global Legal Action Network, sought to force the UK to withdraw from a multilateral defense program with the United States, which manufactures the F-35 jets. The UK provides around 15 percent of every jet's components, many of which are pooled and accessible to 'Israel' through the international program. The government had previously suspended about 30 arms export licenses to 'Israel' in September 2023 over concerns that British-made weapons might be used in violations of international humanitarian law. However, it argued that fully exiting the F-35 program could jeopardize international security cooperation and damage relations with key allies such as the US and NATO. The two presiding judges ruled that decisions of such political and diplomatic sensitivity rest with the executive branch, not the courts. 'That acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive which is democratically accountable to parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts,' they said. Human rights organizations reacted with strong disappointment. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which intervened in the case, criticized the ruling as a failure to uphold the UK's international legal obligations. 'The horrifying reality in Gaza is unfolding in full view of the world: entire families obliterated, civilians killed in so-called safe zones, hospitals reduced to rubble, and a population driven into starvation by a cruel blockade and forced displacement,' said Sacha Deshmukh, CEO of Amnesty International UK. 'This judgment does not change the facts on the ground, nor does it absolve the UK government of its responsibilities under international law.' Oxfam, which also submitted evidence, condemned the UK's ongoing participation in the F-35 program. 'It is unconscionable that the government would continue to license the sale of components for F-35 jets knowing that they are used to deliberately attack civilians in Gaza and destroy their means of survival, including vital water supplies,' the organization said in a statement. The government responded by saying it will continue to review defense export licenses, adding, 'The court has upheld this government's thorough and lawful decision-making on this matter.'


Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
UK high court rejects challenge against selling military parts to Israel
LONDON — Human rights groups lost their legal challenge to the British government's decision to supply Israel with parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment, in a ruling handed by London's High Court on Monday. The court, which looked into the allegation that the UK selling arms to Israel through a global pool was against the law, stated that it was not up to the courts to tell the government to withdraw from the group. The case was brought by the UK-based Global Legal Action Network and a Ramallah-based human rights group Al-Haq, in conjunction with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam. They argued that there was a 'clear risk' that the UK's indirect supply of essential F-35 components to Israel — which have been linked to its recent military actions, particularly in Gaza — represented a breach of domestic and international law, accusing the British government of operating through a 'deliberate loophole". However, in a 72-page ruling, two High Court judges ruled that the issue was one of national security, given that the parts were considered vital to the defense collaboration, as well as the UK's security and international peace. 'Under our constitution, that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive, which is democratically accountable to parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts," stated Justices Stephen Males and Karen Steyn. The court said that the components were manufactured in the UK, before being sent to assembly lines in the US, Italy and Japan, which supply partners — including Israel — with jets and spare parts. Although the government suspended 30 out of 350 export licenses for equipment sent to Israel — which included licenses for helicopters and drone parts — in September 2024, licenses related to components of F-35 fighter jets were exempt from the suspension. Compared with major arms suppliers such as the US and Germany, British firms sell a relatively small amount of weapons and components to Israel. The Campaign Against Arms Trade non-profit group estimates that the UK supplies about 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth combat aircraft, including its laser targeting system. — Euronews


Economic Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
UK High Court Rules F-35 jet parts exports to Israel are lawful despite humanitarian concerns
Despite concerns over potential breaches of international law in Gaza, the UK High Court has ruled lawful the government's continued export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel. This decision follows a legal challenge by human rights groups, arguing the exports violate international obligations. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in International 1. Harry and Meghan to play key roles in King Charles' funeral despite Royal tensions 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 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 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 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 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.


Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
UK High Court Rules F-35 jet parts exports to Israel are lawful despite humanitarian concerns
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel 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 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 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 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 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.


Japan Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Judges rule against human rights groups' claim that UK is illegally arming Israel
By BRIAN MELLEY Human rights groups lost their legal challenge Monday to the British government's decision to supply Israel with parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment. The Palestinian group Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network alleged that the government broke domestic and international law and was complicit in atrocities against Palestinians by allowing essential components for the warplanes to be supplied to Israel. The government last year suspended about 30 of 350 existing export licenses for equipment deemed to be for use in the conflict in Gaza because of a 'clear risk' the items could be used to violate international humanitarian law. Equipment included parts for helicopters and drones. But an exemption was made for some licenses related to components of F-35 fighter jets, which are indirectly supplied to Israel through the global spare parts supply chain and have been linked to bombing the Gaza Strip. While rights groups argued the UK shouldn't continue to export parts through what they call a 'deliberate loophole' given the government's own assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law, the government said the parts were distributed to a collaboration involving the U.S. and six other partners to produce the jets. Components manufactured in the UK are sent to assembly lines in the U.S., Italy and Japan that supply partners — including Israel — with jets and spare parts, the court said. Two High Court judges ruled that the issue was one of national security because the parts were considered vital to the defense collaboration and the UK's security and international peace. They said it wasn't up to the courts to tell the government to withdraw from the group because of the possibility the parts would be supplied to Israel and used to violate international humanitarian law in Gaza. 'Under our constitution that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive, which is democratically accountable to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts," Justices Stephen Males and Karen Steyn wrote in a 72-page judgment. Compared with major arms suppliers such as the U.S. and Germany, British firms sell a relatively small amount of weapons and components to Israel. The Campaign Against Arms Trade nonprofit group estimates that the U.K. supplies about 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth combat aircraft, including its laser targeting system. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.