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This content was published on 18 November 2024 – 14:50
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LONDON (Reuters) – Britain allows spare parts for F-35 fighter jets to be exported to Israel and accepts that they could be used in Gaza in violation of international humanitarian law, lawyers for a Palestinian rights group told a London court on Monday.
Al-Haq in the West Bank, which documents alleged human rights violations by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, filed a lawsuit against the British Department of Business and Trade in the High Court in London.
In a report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law in the Gaza war and said that women and children constituted nearly 70 percent of the deaths it verified, which Israel denied.
Israel says it is keen to avoid harming civilians and denies committing violations and war crimes in the conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
The lawsuit comes after Britain suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses in September, although it exempted the indirect export of spare parts for the F-35 fighter jets, attributing this to the impact that it might have on the global program for these aircraft.
Al-Haq says that Britain’s decision is illegal because there is a clear danger that F-35 fighters may be used in violation of international humanitarian law.
Lawyers for the British government said in documents from Monday’s hearing that the government believes that Israel has committed potential violations of international humanitarian law regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid and the treatment of detainees.
Lawyer James Eadie said that Britain “also accepts that there is a clear risk that components of the F-35 aircraft may be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
He added that Britain had nevertheless decided to continue exporting F-35 fighter components, and Defense Minister John Healey was quoted as saying that suspending the export of spare parts for F-35 fighter jets “will have a severe impact on international peace and security.”
A hearing to consider Al-Haq’s appeal against the decision will likely be held in early 2025.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza says that more than 43,800 people have been confirmed killed in the military campaign launched by Israel on the Strip in response to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) attack on it on October 7, 2023.
Israeli statistics indicate that 1,200 people were killed and about 250 hostages were taken in a Hamas attack on it that day.
What are the potential legal ramifications for countries involved in the arms trade when exports are linked to human rights violations?
1. What are your thoughts on the legal implications of allowing spare parts for F-35 fighter jets to be exported to Israel and their potential use in violation of international humanitarian law in Gaza?
2. How do you believe Britain’s decision to continue exporting these components despite acknowledging the risk of violations impacts its reputation as a defender of human rights and international law?
3. Can you discuss the potential consequences of suspending these exports on both the global F-35 program and British-Israeli relations?
4. What is your assessment of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and its role in the decision-making process behind this lawsuit?
5. What do you think about the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report that accuses Israel of violating international humanitarian law during the conflict?
6. Should Britain be doing more to hold Israel accountable for alleged violations of international law, or is its current approach sufficient?
7. How can countries balance the need for national security cooperation with their obligations to uphold human rights and international law?
8. What steps can be taken to ensure that weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands or are not used in violation of international humanitarian law?
9. Given the tensions between Israel and Palestine, how do you see the future of peace negotiations and the potential role of international organizations in facilitating it?
10. What message do you hope this lawsuit sends to other countries engaged in arms trade and export control policies?
