A Palestinian human rights group, Al-Haq, has appealed a British court decision that allowed the UK government to continue sending parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel — even though those

parts could potentially be used in violations of international humanitarian law.

Al-Haq, which is based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, had previously challenged the UK Department for Business and Trade’s decision to exempt F-35 components from a broader suspension on arms exports to Israel announced in 2024. The suspension was introduced amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Britain acknowledged concerns that Israel might not be complying with international humanitarian law.

Despite those concerns, the UK chose not to halt the export of F-35 parts. These British-made components are sent into a shared international supply chain, meaning Israel can still access them for its own fleet of fighter jets.

Earlier this year, London’s High Court dismissed Al-Haq’s legal challenge, ruling that the British government acted lawfully. In its June decision, the court said Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds faced a difficult choice — either allow the exception for F-35 parts or withdraw the UK from the entire multinational F-35 program, a move that could have carried “serious defence and diplomatic consequences.”

Al-Haq’s lawyers argue that the government failed to properly assess the risks of continuing to export the parts, focusing instead on the potential fallout of suspending them. They are now asking the Court of Appeal to review and overturn that decision.

Representing the government, lawyer James Eadie countered that the only guaranteed way to prevent Israel from obtaining F-35 components would be for the UK to leave the program altogether — something he said would have “extraordinarily serious impacts for the UK and for international peace and security.”

The appeal hearing coincided with a major development in the region: a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which includes an agreement to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The truce marks the most significant step toward ending a devastating two-year conflict that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians.

The Court of Appeal is expected to issue its decision in the coming weeks. Photo by sjiong, Wikimedia commons.