Latest news with #Al-Haq
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
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. READ MORE 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." READ MORE 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.'
LeMonde
23-05-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
NGOs file legal action against Paris Air Show for showcasing Israeli companies
The 55 th edition of the Paris Air Show, set to take place from June 16 to 22 at the Parc des Expositions in Paris, has come under pressure amid heightened international tensions. Following the lead of 145 organizations, parties, collectives and unions, the leaders of the left-wing groups on the Seine-Saint-Denis departmental council, backed by Socialist president of the administrative department Stéphane Troussel, called on for Israeli companies to be excluded from the Paris Air Show on Monday, May 19, given the war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. Alongside these calls, two emergency legal complaints were filed against SIAE, a subsidiary of the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS), which organizes the biennial show. The first complaint accuses SIAE of promoting and allowing the participation of companies, delegations and intermediaries suspected of being directly or indirectly involved in international crimes (war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide) in the Palestinian territories. The complaint is being brought by the organizations Al-Haq, French Jewish Union for Peace (UJFP), Attac, Stop Fueling War (SFW) and Survie. The second complaint accuses SIAE of promoting and allowing the participation of companies that indirectly fuel the conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan through arms deliveries to third-country firms such as those in the United Arab Emirates. It was supported by the same organizations except for Al-Haq and UJFP.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
UK defends supplying fighter jet parts to Israel
UK says suspending F-35 licences would hurt US trust and disrupt the entire F-35 programme. PHOTO: AFP Listen to article The UK government Thursday defended supplying fighter jet parts to Israel amid the war in Gaza, telling a London court that suspending exports would compromise Britain's security and damage relations with Israel and allies. Rights groups took the government to the High Court this week, accusing it of breaking international law by allowing the export of advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jet components. Supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others, the Palestinian rights association Al-Haq is seeking a court order to stop the supply of UK-made parts for the US warplanes, which Israel has used to devastating effect in Gaza and the West Bank. Earlier this week, lawyers for Al-Haq said the government had known there was a 'clear risk' Israel would use the jet parts to commit violations of international law. But government lawyer James Eadie said Thursday the UK's trade department had acted lawfully and that suspending the export licences would have affected a wider international F-35 programme, resulting in 'extremely serious risks to the UK and international security'. He added the court was not placed to rule on the legality of Israel's actions, and that attempting to do so could have a 'potentially deleterious' effect on 'foreign relations with a friendly state, namely Israel'. He also said the government had taken decisions about suspending arms licences with its relationship with Israel in mind, seeking to 'make sure relations continued to be cordial'. In September 2024, the new Labour government announced it was suspending around 30 of 350 export licences following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law. But the partial ban did not cover British-made F-35 parts. The refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres and ejector seat are among the components made in Britain, according to Oxfam. Britain's defence secretary has previously said suspending F-35 licences would 'undermine US confidence in the UK and NATO', and would not be possible without 'wide impacts to the whole F-35 programme'. But lawyers for Al-Haq have described the F-35 exemption as a 'loophole' allowing the components to reach Israel through a global pooling system. In a separate statement, UK-based NGO Campaign Against Arms Trade said licensing figures showed the government had made a 'shocking increase in military exports to Israel' in the months after its September 2024 announcement of partial suspensions. It said the figures showed the UK approved £127.6 million ($170 million) in military equipment to Israel in single-issue licences from October to December 2024, saying this was more than for the period from 2020 to 2023 combined. Most of the licences were for military radars, components and software, as well as targeting equipment, according to the NGO, which was involved in the case against the government. It is not certain when a decision could be made after the four-day hearing, which ends on Friday and marks the latest stage in a long-running legal battle.
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
UK govt defends supplying fighter jet parts to Israel
LONDON: The UK government Thursday defended supplying fighter jet parts to Israel amid the war in Gaza, telling a London court that suspending exports would compromise Britain's security and damage relations with Israel and allies. Rights groups took the government to the High Court this week, accusing it of breaking international law by allowing the export of advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth jet components. Supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others, the Palestinian rights association Al-Haq is seeking a court order to stop the supply of UK-made parts for the US warplanes, which Israel has used to devastating effect in Gaza and the West Bank. Earlier this week, lawyers for Al-Haq said the government had known there was a 'clear risk' Israel would use the jet parts to commit violations of international law. But government lawyer James Eadie said Thursday the UK's trade department had acted lawfully and that suspending the export licences would have affected a wider international F-35 programme, resulting in 'extremely serious risks to the UK and international security'. He added the court was not placed to rule on the legality of Israel's actions, and that attempting to do so could have a 'potentially deleterious' effect on 'foreign relations with a friendly state, namely Israel'. Top Dutch court told to uphold ban on F-35 parts to Israel He also said the government had taken decisions about suspending arms licences with its relationship with Israel in mind, seeking to 'make sure relations continued to be cordial'. In September 2024, the new Labour government announced it was suspending around 30 of 350 export licences following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law. But the partial ban did not cover British-made F-35 parts. The refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres and ejector seat are among the components made in Britain, according to Oxfam. Britain's defence secretary has previously said suspending F-35 licences would 'undermine US confidence in the UK and NATO', and would not be possible without 'wide impacts to the whole F-35 programme'. But lawyers for Al-Haq have described the F-35 exemption as a 'loophole' allowing the components to reach Israel through a global pooling system. In a separate statement, UK-based NGO Campaign Against Arms Trade said licensing figures showed the government had made a 'shocking increase in military exports to Israel' in the months after its September 2024 announcement of partial suspensions. It said the figures showed the UK approved £127.6 million ($170 million) in military equipment to Israel in single-issue licences from October to December 2024, saying this was more than for the period from 2020 to 2023 combined. Most of the licences were for military radars, components and software, as well as targeting equipment, according to the NGO, which was involved in the case against the government. It is not certain when a decision could be made after the four-day hearing, which ends on Friday and marks the latest stage in a long-running legal battle.
Days of Palestine
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Palestinian Group Sues UK Over Weapons Exports to Israeli Occupation
DaysofPal- A Palestinian human rights organization has launched legal action against the British government over its continued export of F-35 fighter jet components to the Israeli occupation, accusing the UK of violating international law amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza. Al-Haq, a prominent legal advocacy group based in the occupied West Bank, filed a lawsuit in the UK High Court challenging the Department for Business and Trade's decision to exempt F-35 component licenses from suspension, despite acknowledging the risk that such equipment could be used in breaches of international humanitarian law. The case arises against the backdrop of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, and has since triggered a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. In September 2024, Britain suspended several arms export licenses to the Israeli occupation due to concerns about its compliance with international law, particularly regarding humanitarian access and the treatment of detainees. However, the UK government specifically excluded the F-35 components from these suspensions. The exemption was reportedly made following pressure from the UK Ministry of Defense, which argued that halting F-35 exports would compromise international security and 'undermine US confidence in the UK and NATO.' Al-Haq's legal team contends that this decision is unlawful and violates Britain's obligations under the Geneva Conventions and broader international law. 'Our case focuses on whether UK ministers correctly interpreted the law when deciding to continue the F-35 exports—not on whether Israeli violations in Gaza are legal or not,' said Reda Hussein, the group's legal representative. The British government, however, defended its stance. In court submissions, government lawyer James Eadie argued that ministers were entitled to take 'extraordinary measures' to prevent what they claim would be broader implications for international peace and security. He insisted the decision was consistent with domestic and international legal standards. This case is part of a growing international push to hold Western governments accountable for arms sales to the Israeli occupation. Last year, Al-Haq and other organizations petitioned a Dutch court to block the Netherlands from exporting weapons to the Israeli occupation and engaging in trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The High Court's ruling could set a significant precedent regarding the limits of strategic alliances and the extent to which governments can balance national interests with their legal responsibilities under international humanitarian law. Shortlink for this post:
