Leading human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Al-Haq, Oxfam, and Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), have pressed the High Court in London to block UK exports of components for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel. The groups argue that the continued transfer of these parts constitutes a breach of international law due to the “clear risk” they could be used in military operations against civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The legal challenge centers on the UK’s role in supplying vital F-35 components—such as refueling probes and laser targeting systems—through an international production and distribution network. Activists claim this has created a "loophole," allowing British-made parts to reach Israeli forces despite the September 2024 suspension of over 30,000 other UK arms export licenses to Israel by the Labour government.
According to CAAT’s report, A Place of Injustice, UK military exports to Israel reached a staggering £127.6 million ($170 million) in the final quarter of 2024 alone—exceeding the total value of exports over the entire period from 2020 to 2023.
Representing the UK government, barrister James Eadie argued that suspending the F-35 component exports could damage critical diplomatic and military relationships—not just with Israel, but also with NATO allies and particularly the United States. He stressed that halting the exports would "impair trust by the US" and create friction within the global F-35 fighter jet program.
Eadie further contended that the High Court lacks jurisdiction to assess Israel’s military decisions, suggesting that such determinations fall outside the scope of British judicial review.
The human rights organizations maintain that the UK is failing in its legal obligations by allowing the continued export of parts that are likely to be used in environments where civilian casualties are high. They argue that the UK government has not provided sufficient justification to ignore this risk, which could leave it complicit in violations of international humanitarian law.
Al-Haq and Amnesty International emphasized the growing death toll and destruction in Palestinian territories, pointing to reports of F-35 strikes in densely populated areas and near civilian infrastructure.
The court hearing, which concluded on Friday, marks the latest stage in a lengthy legal process to scrutinize the UK's arms trade with Israel. A final ruling is expected in the coming weeks and could set a significant precedent for how the UK applies human rights considerations in its defense export policy.