Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Da Silva: What is happening in Gaza is not a war, it is a genocide
Da Silva: Even the Jewish people do not want this war; it is revenge by a government against the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state
Brazilian President Lula da Silva: What we are seeing is not a war between two armies. [What we have is a] completely professional army that is killing women and children in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: We affirm our readiness to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention
Hamas: We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to end the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces blew up Noura Al-Kaabi Hospital, designated for kidney dialysis patients, in the northern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone targets a car on the Ayta al-Shaab-Debel road in southern Lebanon
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The remaining airlines that have not yet complied with the ban are urged to take this into serious consideration to ensure the safety of their aircraft and passengers
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The YAF, after successfully imposing a partial ban on air traffic at Lydd Airport, are now working to impose a full ban on air traffic at the aforementioned airport in the coming period
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: YAF's UAV Unit carried out three military operations targeting three vital Israeli sites in the occupied Palestinian areas of Yafa, Isdud, and Umm al-Rashrash, using three drones

UK government sued over jet parts linked to Gaza bombing

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Financial Times
  • 12 May 2025 13:00
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The UK government is being taken to the High Court by Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq over its role in exporting F-35 fighter jet components used by "Israel" in Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II performs a demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, east of Paris, Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (AP)
    A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II performs a demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, east of Paris, Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (AP)

The UK government is facing a High Court challenge over its continued export of fighter jet components used by "Israel" in its war on Gaza, in a legal case brought by Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organization. The case, reported by the Financial Times, targets the Department for Business and Trade and raises critical questions about the UK’s obligations under international law.

At the centre of the legal dispute is the UK’s role in supplying parts for the US-made F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, which "Israel" has deployed extensively in its aggression on Gaza. While some arms export licences were suspended in 2024 amid concerns over potential breaches of international humanitarian law, F-35 jet components were not included, as they are shipped to the United States and then routed to "Israel" through the broader international F-35 programme.

The UK government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has defended the continued export of F-35 parts. Sir James Eadie KC, leading the government’s legal team, argued that the decision was “lawful and justified,” citing the importance of the F-35 programme to NATO and allied security interests.

Court documents submitted by the Department for Business and Trade warn of the “gravity of the risks to the F-35 programme, and to international peace and security if the F-35 programme were to be compromised.” The government claims halting these exports would jeopardize national defense partnerships and broader strategic objectives.

Legal dispute over the UK’s international humanitarian obligations

Related News

World leaders condemn ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza

Al-Mashat warns firms investing in 'Israel' to heed Yemen's threats

Represented by Phillippa Kaufmann KC and Raza Husain KC, Al-Haq contends that the UK is failing its duty under international law by enabling a party accused of committing war crimes and potential genocide. “The government continues to permit the export of parts for F-35 fighter jets responsible for significant devastation in Gaza,” the group stated in court filings.

Central to the case is whether the UK must act on the “serious risk” of genocide or only when there is “actual knowledge” of violations. The government claims that only the latter standard applies, noting that internal assessments warning of a "clear risk" do not meet the legal threshold. The claimants dispute this, insisting that preventive obligations under international law are triggered by serious risk alone.

Al-Haq’s legal team further argues that the indirect nature of the exports, via the United States, does not reduce the UK's responsibility. “The fact that those parts are now being transferred indirectly to Israel via the United States of America, rather than provided directly to Israel, does not minimise the severity of their impact on the ground in Gaza,” their filing reads.

The case also highlights the UK’s obligation to “respect and ensure respect” for the Geneva Conventions, regardless of whether exports are direct or part of a multinational programme.

Judicial review set to begin

The judicial review is scheduled to begin on Tuesday and is expected to draw significant public and political attention as the UK’s arms export policy to "Israel" comes under renewed scrutiny.

A government spokesperson, while declining to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings, told the Financial Times that the UK remained “fully committed to upholding our responsibilities under domestic and international law.”

Read more: The government has been lying: UK caught in 'Israel' arms scandal

  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • United Kingdom
  • UK arms sale

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam meets with US envoy Morgan Ortagus in Beirut on April 5, 2025 (Dalati Nohra via AP)AP)

Morgan Ortagus to exit US role in Lebanon amid policy shift

  • Politics
  • 1 Jun 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Russia-Ukraine peace talks resume in Istanbul amid escalating war
Europe

Ukraine, Russia head for Istanbul talks as battles rage, cmdr. resigns

Australia urged to join Macron-led push for Palestinian statehood
Asia Pacific

Australia urged to join Macron-led push for Palestinian statehood

‘Israel’ lost international legitimacy for war on Gaza: Israeli media
Palestine

‘Israel’ lost 'international legitimacy' for Gaza war: Israeli media

MSF Chief: US-Israeli aid plan in Gaza ‘Dehumanising’
Politics

US-Israeli aid plan in Gaza used as tool for forced displacement: MSF

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS