TWO groups challenging Britain’s arms exports to Israel vowed to continue their fight today.
The government finally imposed a partial suspension of arms exports licences to Israel on Monday.
Palestinian rights group Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) had already sought a judicial review of the previous government’s decision to continue arms sales to Israel, citing risks of their use in violating international humanitarian law in Gaza.
They have now announced that they will challenge the current government’s partial suspension of licences over “glaring legal errors” and the exclusion of fighter jet components.
The government had announced it would suspend 30 out of 350 arms exports to Israel.
However, components for F-35 fighter jets, which are made under a global programme and could end up in the hands of Israel through a third party, would be exempt.
The jet has been used in Israel’s relentless bombing campaign in Gaza.
Recently, the NGO Danwatch linked F-35 as taking part in Israel’s attack on al-Mawasi “safe zone” which killed 90 people in July.
GLAN and Al-Haq will now analyse whether the government is acting in accordance with British law by exempting the F35 components and will pursue accountability in court.
They say that the government also failed to include the escalation of violence and violations of international law in the West Bank in its assessment.
The groups highlighted that Britain’s decision to partially suspend the exports was in response to Israel’s restrictions on food and medical supplies, and concerns around the mistreatment of detainees.
But they maintain that in doing this, the government had avoided making any assessments on the legality of the air strikes, sniper attacks and controlled demolitions.
Dearbhla Minogue, GLAN senior lawyer, said: “If the government is still facilitating crucial F-35 component parts transfers to Israel, having assessed there is a clear risk of Israel violating international humanitarian law, then we will be asking the court to step in.
“The government has assessed that Israel has possibly violated international law in relation to humanitarian aid and detainees, but has avoided making an assessment on air strikes.
“This reads like it is doing this to protect the F-35 warplane over and above civilian lives.”
