SNP: UK can trace and stop F35 component supply to Israel
Stopping that contribution would mean the "they would not then be available to others around the world who desperately need them in the conflicts they are engaged in," he told MPs
Around 15% of each F-35 – including the entire fuel system and the ejector seat – is manufactured in the UK.
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Brendan O'Hara, the SNP's Middle East spokesperson, said it was possible to trace F-35 components, adding that it is 'an industry norm for serial numbers of components to be logged in order to maintain complete traceability, thereby allowing prevention of supply to an end user'.
The SNP's call comes as Al-Haq, a group based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, pursues legal action against the Department for Business and Trade over its decision to exempt F-35 parts from an arms export suspension affecting around 30 licences last year.
The exemption followed warnings from the Ministry of Defence that including the jets would 'prejudice the entire global F-35 programme, due to its strategic role in Nato and wider implications for international peace and security'.
Internal government documents revealed in court show Defence Secretary John Healey also warned Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds that suspending the licence would 'undermine US confidence in the UK and Nato'.
Mr O'Hara said: 'Since the start, the Labour Party has repeatedly found themselves on the wrong side of this appalling destruction and slaughter of Gaza and the Palestinian people, and this flawed idea that they cannot end the supply of F-35 jet components simply does not stack up – Sir Keir Starmer can and must end their supply to Israel.
'Sir Keir Starmer cannot claim to be horrified by the mass starvation of children in Gaza, but then refuse to stop sending the jets that bomb them to pieces – these components can be traced and prevented from reaching Israel.
'While children are starving to death in Gaza, the UK Government writes condemnations on pieces of paper that do nothing for the people of Palestine – there is no credibility in giving assurances that the UK Government is doing its best to get aid in while helping supply the jets that drop bombs on the innocent people living there.
'Sir Keir Starmer might try and hide behind excuses, but what people in Scotland see is a UK Government that is refusing to end the supply of deadly fighter jets to an Israeli state determined to destroy Gaza.
'It is brutally and blatantly clear that the Netanyahu Government will continue to act with impunity unless and until there are consequences for their actions.
"The real question now is just how much more suffering the people of Gaza have to bear before the UK Government and the international community finally act to the fullest extent available to them.'
A UK Government spokesperson hit back at the SNP: 'As the Foreign Secretary has said, Israel's actions are intolerable and we want to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, a surge of aid and a path towards long-term peace.
'This Government has at all times acted in a manner consistent with our legal obligations, which is why we have suspended all licences for items to the IDF that might be used in military operations in Gaza, based on our assessment that these could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law.
'As we have set out to Parliament, it is not currently possible to suspend licensing of F-35 components for use by Israel without prejudicing the entire global programme, which would have serious implications for international peace and security due to its crucial strategic role in the defence of NATO and other UK allies."
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Last Wednesday, During Prime Minister's Questions, SNP MP Kirsty Blackman asked: 'If the Prime Minister agrees that the Israeli Government starving children to death is monstrous, why does he think it is okay for the UK to continue to sell Israel the equipment for the fighter jets to drop bombs on those starving children?'
Sir Keir responded: 'What we contribute into a pot is parts for fighter jets, and if we were to stop that, they could not be used by other countries in other conflicts, including those in which we are involved... They are not sold directly. They go into a pot. If we were to stop that, they would not then be available to others around the world who desperately need them in the conflicts they are engaged in, and that is why we will not do it.'
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