200+ orgs urge nations to halt supply of F-35 parts to 'Israel'
3 Min Read
The letter, signed by 232 civil society organizations, was sent on Monday to several governments of countries involved in the production of F-35 parts.
-
A US F35 fighter jet performs during the opening day of the Dubai Air Show, on November 13, 2023. (AP)
Over 200 global organizations called nations involved in producing F-35 fighter jet parts to halt "all arms transfers to 'Israel'" amid concerns that the planes were being used to violate international law.
A letter signed by 232 civil society organizations was sent on Monday to government ministers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, the US, and the UK as the war in Gaza reaches its 500th day, with the sponsors coming from jet-building Belgium, Jordan, Lebanon, Switzerland, Ireland, India and many more countries.
According to The Guardian, the letter reads, "The past 15 months have illustrated with devastating clarity that 'Israel' is not committed to complying with international law," adding that "Partners to the F-35 programme have individually and collectively failed to prevent these jets from being used to commit serious violations of international law by 'Israel'."
It further says, "States have either been unwilling to observe their international legal obligations and/or claimed that the structure of the F-35 programme means that it is not possible to apply arms controls to any end-user, making the entire programme incompatible with international law."
'Israel's' story with the F-35
"Israel" was the first country to use the F-35 in combat according to Major General Amikam Norkin in 2018, 2 years after receiving the first 2 F-35I "Adir" jets on December 13, 2016, making it the first foreign operator of the jet outside of the United States.
Since then, the Israeli Air Force procured more F-35 jets, upping its fleet of the multirole stealth jet to 38.
The occupation signed a $3 billion agreement with the US to obtain a third squadron of the jets in June, bringing the total number of jets in the Israeli Air Force to 75, with deliveries to commence in 2028.
37 British lawmakers questioned the British government in September of 2024 for its failure to suspend export licenses for F-35 fighter jet parts to "Israel" under suspicions that it's using them to conduct its genocide on Gaza.
The letter warned that ongoing sales of the parts could implicate the United Kingdom in "grave violations of international law," adding that "The government has admitted it cannot license the direct transfer of F-35 components to 'Israel' due to the clear risk of serious international humanitarian law violations."
