A Palestinian human rights group on Monday lost its legal challenge to the British government’s decision to supply Israel with parts for F-35 fighter jets and other military equipment.

Al-Haq alleged that the UK broke domestic and international law and was complicit in atrocities against Palestinians by allowing essential components for the warplanes to be supplied to Israel.

The government said the ruling showed it had rigorous export rules and it would continue to review its licensing agreements, a spokesperson said.

The government last year suspended about 30 of 350 existing export licenses for equipment deemed to be for use in the conflict in Gaza because of a “clear risk” the items could be used to violate international humanitarian law. Equipment included parts for helicopters and drones.

But an exemption was made for some licenses related to components of F-35 fighter jets, which are indirectly supplied to Israel through the global spare parts supply chain and have been linked to bombing the Gaza Strip.

While Al-Haq argued the UK shouldn’t continue to export parts through what it called a “deliberate loophole,” given the government’s own assessment of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law, the government said the parts were distributed to a collaboration involving the US and six other partners to produce the jets.

Al-Haq had its offices in Ramallah shuttered by Israel in 2022, 10 months after the Defense Ministry designated Al-Haq and several other Palestinian groups as terrorist organizations over their alleged links to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a leftist terror group. The international community has asserted that Israel has failed to provide convincing evidence to back up its claims.

Components manufactured in the UK are sent to assembly lines in the US, Italy and Japan that supply partners — including Israel — with jets and spare parts, the court said.

Two High Court........

© The Times of Israel