Latest news with #MK-84
Kuwait Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Rights groups urge UK court to block jet sales to Zionists
LONDON: A protestor dressed as Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer poses in front of a 16-foot replica of a MK-84 2,000-pound bomb labelled with the word "Complicity" in front of Big Ben, at the Palace of Westminster, central London, on May 12, 2025. — AFP LONDON: Rights groups on Tuesday urged judges to halt Britain's supply of fighter jet parts to the Zionist entity amid the war in Gaza, as they took the government to court and accused it of breaking international law. Supported by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others, the Palestinian rights association Al-Haq is seeking a court order to stop the government's export of UK-made components for Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets. The Zionist entity has used the US warplanes to devastating effect in Gaza and the West Bank. Outside the High Court in London, around 50 protesters waved Palestinian flags and placards with the words "Stop Arming Israel: Stop the genocide". Inside the packed courtroom, Al-Haq lawyer Raza Husain said the case was "being heard against the backdrop of human calamity unfolding in Gaza, the extremity of which is difficult to convey in words." He argued the government's trade department had unlawfully allowed exports of F-35 parts knowing there was a "clear risk" the Zionist entity would use them to commit violations of international law in Gaza. The entity has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide. The plane's refueling probe, laser targeting system, tires, rear fuselage, fan propulsion system and ejector seat are all made in Britain, according to Oxfam, and lawyers for Al-Haq have said the aircraft "could not keep flying without continuous supply of UK-made components." Britain's defense ministry has previously said suspending F-35 licenses would "undermine US confidence in the UK and NATO," while in a written submission a lawyer for the government said its actions were "consistent with the rules of international law." It is not certain when a decision could be made following the four-day hearing, which marks the latest stage in a long-running legal battle. 'Loophole' Lawyers for the Global Action Legal Network (GLAN) have said they launched the case soon after the entity's assault on Gaza began in October 2023. The lawyers said the UK government had decided in December 2023 and again in April and May 2024 to continue arms sales to the entity, before suspending licenses in September 2024 for weapons assessed as being for military use by the Zionist forces in Gaza. The new Labour government suspended around 30 of 350 export licenses following a review of the entity's compliance with international humanitarian law. But the partial ban did not cover British-made parts for the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets. A UK government spokesperson told AFP it was "not currently possible to suspend licensing of F-35 components for use by the Zionist entity without prejudicing the entire global F-35 program, due to its strategic role in NATO and wider implications for international peace and security". "Within a couple of months of coming to office, we suspended relevant licenses for the IDF that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza," they said. But GLAN described the F-35 exemption as a "loophole" which allowed the components to reach the entity through a global pooling system. Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, a lawyer for GLAN, told a briefing last week the UK government had "expressly departed from its own domestic law in order to keep arming (the Zionist entity)", with F-35s being used to drop "multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza". "Under the Genocide Convention, the UK has a clear legal obligation to do everything within its power to prevent genocide," said Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK's chief executive. "Yet the UK government continues to authorize the export of military equipment to (the Zionist entity). This is a fundamental failure by the UK to fulfil its obligations." — AFP
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
An arms trade protest and a tyre change: photos of the day
People take pictures and videos of Pope Leo XIV after his audience with members of the media in the Paul VI Hall Photograph: Ettore Ferrari/EPA A group of people believed to be migrants are led through the Border Force compound after crossing the Channel Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA People wait with empty pots to get food distributed by charities Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images People inspect the damage at a UN school turned shelter that was hit by Israeli military strikes Photograph: Jehad Alshrafi/AP A man wearing a satirical mask of Keir Starmer poses with a replica of a MK-84 2,000lb bomb. The Global Legal Action Network and al-Haq have filed suit against the British government over its sale of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel despite the UK's suspension of arms transfers to Israel last year Photograph:People queue to vote at a school being used as a voting centre during national and local midterm elections Photograph: Rolex dela Peña/EPA Emmanuel Macron meets staff on a visit to the laboratory of the French-Italian optics company EssilorLuxottica Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/Reuters People walk through a temple where Buddha statues have been placed on Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death Photograph: Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters Young women in Indigenous 'Panchitas' attire accompany a procession during the 43rd Cultural Festival of Palms and Flowers in the colonial city Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Christopher Bell's pit crew jumps the safety wall as he comes in for a tyre change during a Nascar Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway Photograph: Colin E Braley/AP Models walk the runway during the Carla Zampatti show as part of Australian fashion week Photograph:
Shafaq News
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Bunker busters, missiles arrive: US airlifts huge arms cache to Israel
Shafaq News/ A major US military shipment has arrived in Israel as part of what Israeli media are describing as one of the largest airlifts in the history of US-Israel defense cooperation, amid heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program. According to Israel's i24NEWS, dozens of US military aircraft have landed at the Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel, carrying large quantities of advanced weaponry. The shipment reportedly includes MK-84 heavy bombs, hundreds of THAAD interceptor missiles, and thousands of bunker-busting munitions. The airlift operation is said to involve not only flights from the US mainland but also from American military bases in Europe and the Middle East, with an average of six aircraft arriving daily—underscoring the scale of the logistical effort. Israeli sources cited in the report said the delivery comes amid ongoing US-Iran negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program and repeated threats by US President Donald Trump to use military force if diplomacy fails. Analysts suggest the military support may be intended to bolster Israel's readiness for a potential confrontation with Iran. The report also noted that the shipment forms part of a broader package of military aid, some of which had been previously frozen during the Biden administration. The aid was reauthorized by President Trump following his return to office. i24NEWS added that this latest delivery is likely the first of several, with more weapons expected to arrive in the coming weeks to replenish Israeli stockpiles.
Al Manar
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
US Boosts Israel's Arsenal with Thousands of Bombs Amid Escalating Gaza War
The United States is preparing to send a substantial shipment of munitions to 'Israel', further intensifying the ongoing war on Gaza. Reports indicate that the US has approved the transfer of over 3,000 powerful bombs to the Israeli military, coinciding with plans for a significant escalation of military operations in the region. According to sources cited by Ynetnews, an Israeli news outlet, the Israeli air force is set to receive these munitions in the coming weeks, aimed at enhancing their readiness for a major offensive led by the Israeli occupation army's Southern Command. In addition, more than 10,000 additional bombs are anticipated in the near future, replenishing Israel's military stockpiles as it continues its aggressive actions not only in Gaza but also in Lebanon and Syria. This latest shipment is part of a comprehensive arms package that includes MK-84 bombs, which are known for their destructive capability and have previously been linked to significant civilian casualties in Gaza. The transfer follows a similar shipment that was initially put on hold by the previous US administration but was resumed earlier this year. As the situation escalates, Israeli occupation military officials have announced plans to broaden their offensive on Gaza. Israel's Minister for Military Affairs, Israel Katz, confirmed that the military is preparing for a 'vigorous' expansion of its assault, which has already seen the capture of the 'Morag Corridor,' a strategic route connecting southern Gaza cities Rafah and Khan Younis. The Israeli occupation army has reported that Rafah, now completely surrounded, is the last refuge for over a million displaced Palestinians. The intensified genocidal campaign has come at a staggering human cost. Since March 18, at least 1,630 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,300 wounded across the Palestinian territory due to relentless Israeli bombardments and ground incursions. Entire neighborhoods in Rafah and other southern areas have been flattened, with displaced civilians again forced to flee, this time with nowhere left to go. Across the entire territory, essential infrastructure has been decimated, exacerbating the already dire conditions for over two million Palestinians trapped under blockade.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel's Netanyahu signals he's moving ahead with Trump's idea to transfer Palestinians from Gaza
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday signaled that he was moving ahead with U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to transfer the Palestinian population out of Gaza, calling it 'the only viable plan to enable a different future" for the region. Netanyahu discussed the plan with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who kicked off a Middle East visit by endorsing Israel's war aims in Gaza, saying Hamas 'must be eradicated.' That created further doubt around the shaky ceasefire as talks on its second phase are yet to begin. Rubio, in his upcoming stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, is likely to face more pushback from Arab leaders over Trump's proposal, which includes redeveloping Gaza under U.S. ownership. Netanyahu has said all emigration from Gaza should be 'voluntary,' but rights groups and other critics say that the plan amounts to coercion given the territory's vast destruction. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Netanyahu said he and Trump have a 'common strategy' for Gaza. Echoing Trump, he said "the gates of hell would be open' if Hamas doesn't release dozens of remaining hostages abducted in the militant group's attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that triggered the 16-month war. The ceasefire's first phase ends in two weeks. Negotiations were meant to begin two weeks ago on the second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces Trump's special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, told Fox News that 'phase two is absolutely going to begin' and he had 'very productive" calls Sunday with Netanyahu and officials from Egypt and Qatar, which serve as mediators, about continuing talks this week. He also said hostages to be released include 19 Israeli soldiers and 'we believe all of them are alive." Netanyahu's office said Israel's security Cabinet would meet Monday to discuss the second phase. Trump later told journalists it is 'up to Israel what the next step is, in consultation with me." In another sign of closing ranks, Israel's Defense Ministry said it received a shipment of 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) MK-84 munitions from the United States. The Biden administration paused a shipment of such bombs last year over concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. Resuming the war could doom hostages This week marks 500 days of the war. Netanyahu has signaled readiness to resume the fighting after the ceasefire's current phase, though it could be a death sentence for remaining hostages. Rubio said peace becomes impossible as long as Hamas 'stands as a force that can govern or as a force that can administer or as a force that can threaten by use of violence,' adding, 'It must be eradicated.' Hamas reasserted control over Gaza when the ceasefire began last month, despite suffering heavy losses. Netanyahu has offered Hamas a chance to surrender and send top leaders into exile. Hamas has rejected that scenario and insists on Palestinian rule. Spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou told The Associated Press the group accepts a Palestinian unity government or a technocratic committee to run Gaza. Netanyahu instructed negotiators to leave for Cairo on Monday to discuss further implementation of the ceasefire's first phase, as issues over delivery of shelter materials continue. The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it carried out an airstrike on people who approached forces in southern Gaza. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said it killed three of its police officers while they secured the entry of aid trucks near Rafah on the Egyptian border. 'If someone has a better plan ... that's great' In an interview last week, Rubio indicated that Trump's Gaza proposal was in part aimed at pressuring Arab states to make their own postwar plan that would be acceptable to Israel. Rubio also appeared to suggest that Arab countries send troops to combat Hamas. 'If the Arab countries have a better plan, then that's great,' Rubio said Thursday on the 'Clay and Buck Show.' But 'Hamas has guns,' he added. 'Someone has to confront those guys. It's not going to be American soldiers. And if the countries in the region can't figure that piece out, then Israel is going to have to do it." Rubio wasn't scheduled to meet with Palestinians on his trip. Arabs have limited options For Arab leaders, facilitating the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza or battling Palestinian militants on behalf of Israel are nightmare scenarios that would bring fierce domestic criticism and potentially destabilize an already volatile region. Egypt hosts an Arab summit on Feb. 27 and is working with other countries on a counterproposal that would allow for Gaza's rebuilding without removing its population. Human rights groups say the expulsion of Palestinians would likely violate international law. Egypt has warned that any mass influx of Palestinians from Gaza would undermine its nearly half-century peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of U.S. influence in the region. The UAE and Saudi Arabia also have rejected any mass displacement of Palestinians. The UAE was the driving force behind the 2020 Abraham Accords in which four Arab states — Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco and Sudan — normalized relations with Israel during Trump's previous term. Trump hopes to expand the accords to include Saudi Arabia, potentially offering closer U.S. defense ties, but the kingdom has said it won't normalize relations with Israel without a pathway to a Palestinian state. Rubio won't be visiting Egypt or Jordan, close U.S. allies at peace with Israel that have refused to accept any influx of Palestinian refugees. Trump has suggested he might slash U.S. aid if they don't comply, which could be devastating for their economies. Rubio is also skipping Qatar. Arab and Muslim countries have conditioned any support for postwar Gaza on a return to Palestinian governance with a pathway to statehood in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories that Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel has ruled out a Palestinian state and any role in Gaza for the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, whose forces were driven out when Hamas seized power there in 2007. ___ Natalie Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel. Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Darlene Superville in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP's war coverage at
