MINISTERS have “nowhere left to hide” after the High Court ruled today that their decision to continue exporting fighter jet parts to Israel must be challenged in Parliament.

The government suspended export licences for weapons and military equipment following a review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law in its invasion of Gaza last September.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) however made an exemption to continue licensing exports of components for F-35 fighter jets, which are part of an international military programme.

Lord Justice Males and Mrs Justice Steyn ruled that it is for MPs and the electorate, rather than the courts, to hold ministers to account over the carve-out after a legal challenge by Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq.

“Under our constitution that acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive which is democratically accountable to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts,” they said.

Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Labour MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon said: “There may be some in the government who, after receiving this court judgement, might feel pleased or relieved. I would say that is a big mistake.

“The court’s judgement has been very clear that on the subject of the provision of F-35 parts to the international pool, it is not a matter for the courts, it is a matter for the government.

“The government now has nowhere to hide. It can’t pass the buck.

“The government needs to take moral responsibility now and decide whether or not it wants to continue complicity in a genocide.”

Al-Haq director-general Shawan Jabarin said the case had a “significant impact” and rallied public support for Palestinians.

When asked what the ruling meant, the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP said: “That Parliament must hold the government to account, that MPs must take it upon their own shoulders to be responsible for this.

“If they are serious about humanitarian law and protecting human life and humanity, then they have to demand the end of all arms sales and components to Israel because of the acts that have been committed as a result.”

A government spokesperson said: “We will continue to keep our defence export licensing under careful and continual review.”