By Callum Parke
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.