Latest news with #RazaHusain
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
France 24
13-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Rights groups urge court to halt UK fighter jet supplies to Israel
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. Israel 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" Israel would use them to commit violations of international law in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide. The plane's refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres, 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 defence ministry has previously said suspending F-35 licences 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 Israel's assault on Gaza began, following the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel led by Palestinian militants from Hamas. The lawyers said the UK government had decided in December 2023 and again in April and May 2024 to continue arms sales to Israel, before suspending licences in September 2024 for weapons assessed as being for military use by the Israeli army in Gaza. The new Labour government suspended 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 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 Israel without prejudicing the entire global F-35 programme, 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 licences for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) 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 Israel 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 Israel", with F-35s being used to drop "multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza". The 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, whose figures the United Nations deems reliable. "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 authorise the export of military equipment to Israel.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rights groups urge court to halt UK fighter jet supplies to Israel
Rights groups on Tuesday urged judges to halt Britain's supply of fighter jet parts to Israel 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. Israel 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" Israel would use them to commit violations of international law in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide. The plane's refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres, 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 defence ministry has previously said suspending F-35 licences 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 Israel's assault on Gaza began, following the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel led by Palestinian militants from Hamas. The lawyers said the UK government had decided in December 2023 and again in April and May 2024 to continue arms sales to Israel, before suspending licences in September 2024 for weapons assessed as being for military use by the Israeli army in Gaza. The new Labour government suspended 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 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 Israel without prejudicing the entire global F-35 programme, 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 licences for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) 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 Israel 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 Israel", with F-35s being used to drop "multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza". The 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, whose figures the United Nations deems reliable. "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 authorise the export of military equipment to Israel. "This is a fundamental failure by the UK to fulfil its obligations." lcm/jkb/yad
Int'l Business Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Rights Groups Urge Court To Halt UK Fighter Jet Supplies To Israel
Rights groups on Tuesday urged judges to halt Britain's supply of fighter jet parts to Israel 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. Israel 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" Israel would use them to commit violations of international law in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide. The plane's refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres, 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 defence ministry has previously said suspending F-35 licences 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. Lawyers for the Global Action Legal Network (GLAN) have said they launched the case soon after Israel's assault on Gaza began, following the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel led by Palestinian militants from Hamas. The lawyers said the UK government had decided in December 2023 and again in April and May 2024 to continue arms sales to Israel, before suspending licences in September 2024 for weapons assessed as being for military use by the Israeli army in Gaza. The new Labour government suspended 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 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 Israel without prejudicing the entire global F-35 programme, 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 licences for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) 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 Israel 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 Israel", with F-35s being used to drop "multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza". The 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, whose figures the United Nations deems reliable. "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 authorise the export of military equipment to Israel. "This is a fundamental failure by the UK to fulfil its obligations." The UK govt argues it can't suspend licensing of F-35 components 'without prejudicing the entire global F-35 programme' AFP Al-Haq's general director Shawan Jabarin and former Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn were among those demonstrating outside court AFP An Israeli F-35 fighter jet pictured at an air show AFP
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Events in Gaza a ‘live-streamed genocide', High Court told
The conflict in Gaza is a 'live-streamed genocide', the High Court has been told. Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights organisation, is bringing legal action against the Department for Business and Trade over decisions about licences to export weapons and military equipment to Israel. In September last year, the Government suspended licences following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict, but an exemption was made for some licences related to components of F-35 fighter jets. Lawyers for Al-Haq claim the Government misunderstood the relevant parts of international law when allowing the unlawful 'carve-out' for the parts for the planes described as 'the most lethal fighter jets in the world'. The Government is defending the legal challenge, including by saying that it is not possible to suspend the F-35 related licences to Israel without negatively impacting a wider international programme. At the start of a four-day hearing at the High Court in London, Raza Husain KC, for Al-Haq, said the 'carve-out' 'gives rise to a significant risk of facilitating crime'. He said on Tuesday: 'This claim being heard against the backdrop of human calamity unfolding in Gaza, the extremity of which is difficult to convey in words.' Mr Husain said that around 2.2 million people live in Gaza, which is around the size of the Isle of Wight, and that around 55,000 Palestinians had been killed between October 2023 and April this year. The barrister said in written submissions: 'In just over 18 months, Israel has decimated an entire society.' 'That Israel has acted in this way is demonstrable and incontrovertible. 'What is happening in Gaza is a live-streamed genocide,' he added. Mr Husain later said that the Government failed to properly assess whether the continued export of F-35 parts was compliant with part of the Geneva Conventions when there was a clear risk the parts might be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law by Israel. At a preliminary hearing, the High Court was told that the decision to 'carve out' licences related to F-35 components followed advice from Defence Secretary John Healey, who said a suspension would impact the 'whole F-35 programme' and have a 'profound impact on international peace and security'. The F-35 programme is an international defence programme which produces and maintains the fighter jets, with the UK contributing components for both assembly lines and an international pool. Sir James Eadie KC, for the Government, said in written submissions that the 'carve out' is 'consistent with the rules of international law'. The barrister, who is expected to make oral submissions later this week, continued: 'Many of the arguments advanced by the claimant seek to develop the relevant rules of international law beyond the positions that have to date been adopted by international courts or tribunals.' Sir James also said that part of the case was not able to be decided by the court, as he said it is unable to decide whether Israel has breached international law obligations. He added: 'The nature of the allegations, and considerations of comity, firmly militate against this court determining a claim in which Israel's alleged breaches of international law are put directly in issue.' Sir James later said that some of the criticisms 'are not based on a balanced appreciation of the facts, and are made without taking into account: the true depth and range of the information-gathering and analysis which was undertaken by the Government in reaching the September decision; or the inherent limitations to which the analysis and assessment were subject'. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of the hearing, waving banners and chanting. Speaking to gathered demonstrators, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: 'We're here again, and just in case the British Government and the Israeli government have missed the message, we are not going away. 'We are standing with the Palestinian people for as long as it takes.' Charities Oxfam and Amnesty International, as well as Human Rights Watch, are intervening in the case, with Oxfam expected to make submissions on Wednesday. The hearing before Lord Justice Males and Mrs Justice Steyn is due to conclude on Friday with a decision expected in writing at a later date.
