Rights groups have filed a lawsuit against the UK government concerning its arms exports to Israel amid the severe conflict in Gaza.
With support from the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq, and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), the groups demand an immediate halt to lucrative weapons sales to Israel, citing a “clear risk” of their use in war crimes.
They announced their legal action on Tuesday, emphasizing the government’s consistent dismissal of requests to cease supplying arms to Israel due to “serious concerns.”
The High Court case focuses on Israel’s alleged indiscriminate targeting of civilians and critical infrastructure, leading to issues such as starvation, forced displacement, and the perceived “risk of genocide,” highlighted by GLAN Director Dr Gearóid Ó Cuinn during a press briefing.
He questioned the UK’s legal obligations in the face of atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza, urging the UK to take immediate diplomatic, political, and economic measures to prevent such crimes, including genocide.
The UK is a significant supplier of arms to Israel.
It provides 15% of the components in the F-35 stealth combat aircraft that Israel has used to relentlessly bomb Gaza, according to the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which puts these sales at £336 million (€386 million) since 2016.
In a statement, the UK Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “We are monitoring the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories very closely.
“We can and do respond quickly and flexibly to changing international circumstances. All licences are kept under careful and continual review and we are able to amend, suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require.”
The government has previously said it has ‘no plans’ to suspend arms sales to Israel, despite repeated criticism from human rights campaigners and watchdogs.
