The UK government is under intense legal scrutiny this week as a coalition of human rights organizations launches a High Court challenge over the country’s continued supply of weapons components to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Amnesty International UK, Al-Haq, and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) have jointly filed the case, arguing that Britain’s arms exports particularly components for F-35 fighter jets enable serious breaches of international humanitarian law, including war crimes and possible acts of genocide.
At the center of the challenge is the UK’s indirect role in the assembly of F-35 jets, which Israel has used in its military operations over Gaza. UK-manufactured components account for approximately 15% of each aircraft, including laser targeting systems and other critical technologies.
“These components are not benign,” said GLAN legal director Dr. Gearóid Ó Cuinn. “They are integral to precision strikes that have devastated civilian infrastructure and caused mass casualties.”
The lawsuit comes despite the UK’s decision last September to suspend 30 export licenses to Israel due to concerns about violations of international humanitarian law. However, exemptions were made for parts used in the F-35 program, which is jointly developed by several NATO allies and led by the United States.
The plaintiffs argue that these exemptions constitute complicity in potential war crimes, given the well-documented civilian toll in Gaza. Over 30,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the conflict escalated in 2023, with schools, hospitals, and refugee camps among the targets.
In its defense, the UK government insists that all arms exports are subject to rigorous risk assessments, and maintains that suspending or revoking licenses could threaten international security cooperation and British defense jobs.
“Our priority is to uphold both human rights and our strategic alliances,” said a spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. “All exports are evaluated in accordance with UK and international law.”
The High Court hearing is expected to span four days, with a judgment anticipated later this summer. A ruling against the government could set a precedent affecting future arms exports to countries involved in conflict zones.
The case has already drawn international attention, as calls grow for greater accountability over Western arms sales. The outcome may influence similar legal efforts in other NATO countries supplying Israel.
