UK government in High Court over continued arms exports to Israel

LONDON

The Royal Courts of Justice in London began hearing a case, challenging the UK government's continued arms supply to Israel on Tuesday.

The four-day hearing came after the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq took the government to the High Court over weapons exports to Israel, "despite the ongoing violations of international law and UK rules which demand an immediate halt of all export licenses."

The case which also garnered support from various human rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Oxfam, aims to ensure the UK government urgently suspends all arms exports to Israel -- including the parts for the F-35 fighter jet.

On Sept. 2 last year, the British government announced that it was suspending 30 out of its 350 arms export licenses to Israel after a review, warning that there is a clear risk that certain UK arms exports to Israel might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

The 30 licenses cover components for military aircraft, helicopters, drones, and items that facilitate ground targeting, excluding UK components for the F-35 fighter jet program.

However, many groups and politicians have criticized this announcement, saying it is not enough compared to the overall 350 military and dual-use licenses for Israel.

Meanwhile, the case argues that the UK can and must track and stop British-made F-35 parts from reaching Israel and that the government must ensure domestic laws are followed.

In a statement ahead of the hearing, GLAN said: "Under both domestic and international law, the UK has a duty to stop the sale of weapons to any state committing violations of IHL (international humanitarian law) and to prevent genocide."

Protesters are expected to stage a rally outside the court to call on the government to suspend all arms supply to Israel amid the ongoing crippling situation in the Gaza Strip where nearly 52,900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7, 2023.

According to a recent study, conducted by Progressive International, Palestine Youth Movement, and Workers for a Free Palestine, the UK sent military goods, munitions of war, arms, and arms parts, including the export of over 8,000 separate munitions to Israel since the government’s partial suspension of export licenses in September 2024 until March 2025.