The UK government is facing a serious court case this week over its export of fighter jet parts. A human rights group has gone to the High Court to challenge the decision to allow the export of certain parts used in the F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
Legal Battle Over UK Jet Parts Sent to Israel
These jets have been used by Israel in its operations in Gaza.
The group behind the court action is raising concerns about parts made in the UK that end up in the F-35 aircraft. Even though these parts are not sent directly to Israel, they still become part of the global pool of F-35 components, which are used in jets flown by Israel. The campaigners argue that these parts are helping to fuel destruction in Gaza.
In September last year, the UK had stopped some arms exports to Israel after a government review suggested that Israel might have breached international laws during its military actions in Gaza. But the UK made an exception for F-35 components. Officials said that stopping those parts could affect not only Israel’s jets but also jets used by other countries, including members of NATO.
This is why the issue is now being heard in court. The campaigners believe that the government’s decision to keep sending F-35 parts was wrong and goes against international law.
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What the Campaigners Say About the UK’s Actions
The human rights campaigners claim that the UK is still sending parts that play a role in harming civilians in Gaza. They believe the government is not doing enough to follow its legal duties under international law. According to them, the UK should have stopped all exports related to fighter jets used in Gaza, no matter if they are sent directly or indirectly.
They argue that the duty to stop genocide or serious harm should apply even if there is only a serious risk of it happening — not just when it’s already proven. In this case, they say there is a serious risk, and that is enough reason to stop the export of the parts.
The campaigners also mention that the way the parts are shipped — through other countries like the United States — does not reduce the impact they have when the jets are used in attacks. In their view, the UK’s responsibility remains the same whether the parts are sent straight to Israel or passed through another country.
They believe that the reasoning behind the government’s decision was not strong and even call it irrational. In short, they say the government acted without properly considering the full consequences of its actions.
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UK Government Defends Its Decision in Court
In response to the case, the UK government says it made the right decision. It explains that stopping the export of these particular parts could harm the entire F-35 fighter jet program, which includes many countries and helps to maintain international peace and security.
Government officials argue that the situation is more complex than it seems. They believe that their decision does not break any laws because they do not have actual knowledge that the parts will be used in ways that break international humanitarian law. Instead, they only see a “clear risk” that something might go wrong — and under current rules, this is not enough to stop all exports.
The government also says that its arms export system includes strong checks. These checks are meant to make sure weapons or parts are not used to hurt innocent people. In this case, officials believe that fully suspending F-35 parts would cause problems far beyond one country. It could affect the whole network of countries that depend on the F-35 fighter jets for defense.
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Even though the government cannot say much about the case while it is in court, a spokesperson said the UK is committed to following both domestic and international laws.
The legal process, called a judicial review, started on Tuesday. This means the court will examine whether the government acted lawfully in its decision to allow these exports. The outcome of the case may take some time, but for now, the facts show that the UK’s decision to keep exporting these parts has sparked a major legal challenge and a debate about responsibility during conflict.