UK Court Upholds Legality of F-35 Parts Export to Israel Amid Human Rights Concerns
November 12, 2025142 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The UK Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal from the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq, upholding a prior decision that allows for the indirect export of F-35 aircraft parts to Israel. This ruling comes despite the court's acknowledgment of the potential for these components to be used in ways that contravene international humanitarian law.
Al-Haq, based in the West Bank, sought to contest a ruling from the British Department for Business and Trade made last year, which exempted F-35 parts from a suspension on arms export licenses related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The court determined that matters of national security fall under the jurisdiction of the British government, which has the authority to prioritize these concerns over legal evaluations of Israel's adherence to international humanitarian law.
It concluded that the lower court's ruling was correct in deeming the export legal, leading to the rejection of the appeal.
This decision has faced backlash from human rights advocates, who argue that it prioritizes political and security factors over legal and humanitarian standards, particularly amid rising international scrutiny regarding the use of Western arms in Gaza.
Additionally, a similar legal challenge is underway in the Netherlands, where human rights groups are working to halt the export of F-35 components to Israel, reflecting a growing European discourse on the responsibilities of arms-exporting nations in monitoring weapon usage in conflict zones.
Al-Haq, based in the West Bank, sought to contest a ruling from the British Department for Business and Trade made last year, which exempted F-35 parts from a suspension on arms export licenses related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The court determined that matters of national security fall under the jurisdiction of the British government, which has the authority to prioritize these concerns over legal evaluations of Israel's adherence to international humanitarian law.
It concluded that the lower court's ruling was correct in deeming the export legal, leading to the rejection of the appeal.
This decision has faced backlash from human rights advocates, who argue that it prioritizes political and security factors over legal and humanitarian standards, particularly amid rising international scrutiny regarding the use of Western arms in Gaza.
Additionally, a similar legal challenge is underway in the Netherlands, where human rights groups are working to halt the export of F-35 components to Israel, reflecting a growing European discourse on the responsibilities of arms-exporting nations in monitoring weapon usage in conflict zones.
