30 June 2025
Today the High Court ruled in favour of the British government in the case of Al Haq v Secretary of State for Business and Trade, determining that the sale of F-35 components to Israel is lawful on all counts, despite the government acknowledging that they may be used in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. The case was bought forward by the Palestinian Human Rights Group, Al Haq and supported by Oxfam, Amnesty International UK and Human Rights Watch.
In September 2024, following protracted civil society efforts including from Caabu, the UK government suspended 29 arms export licences to Israel which were not compliant with International Humanitarian Law but continued the supply of F-35 components. The government’s defence of this decision was based on the UK’s commitment to the multinational F-35 strike fighter programme, where it would not be possible to suspend licences to Israel without impacting the security of the international community.
Al-Haq claimed that the “F-35 Carve Out” was unlawful because it violated parts of the Geneva conventions and the Arms Trade Treaty which would make the UK complicit in genocide.
Speaking at the Royal Courts of Justice after the ruling, Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director of Human Rights Watch stated that the court stood behind the justification of national security, whilst failing to “reflect on the security of the Palestinian people to be free from acts of genocide” and believed that “the government is not complying with its obligations to prevent genocide and its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty”.
Richard Burgon MP stated that the court’s judgement is clear that the sale of F-35 parts is a matter for Parliament and the “democratic process”. He called on the government to “immediately take the decision to stop supplying F-35 parts” or they remain complicit in the Palestinian genocide.
Caabu is disappointed by the verdict because the evidence is clear that the continued sale of F-35 components violates the Arms Trade Treaty. The Court left the decision up to the Executive. We continue to call on the government to end all arms sales to Israel with immediate effect.
An interview with Caabu Director Chris Doyle on TRT on 30 June, on the High Court ruling can be found here.
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Notes to editors:
- For more information or interviews contact Chris Doyle on +44 (0)7968 040281
