UK upheld arms exports to Israel to reassure US, court told

The UK government did not fully suspend export licences to Israel as it would undermine US confidence in the UK and Nato and have a "profound impact" on international peace and security, court documents reveal.

- Geneva Abdul

Yesterday the UK government returned to the high court, in legal action brought by the Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (Glan) over the decision.

In September the government suspended 30 existing arms licences because of a "clear risk" they may be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law (IHL).

But an exemption was made for some licences related to components of F-35 fighter jets, and about 330 others continued unaltered, which concerned items such as training and air defence equipment.

Al-Haq is seeking to challenge the decision not to suspend all licences in September, the move to "carve out" licences for F-35 components from the suspension, and decisions by the then Tory government not to suspend licences in December 2023 and April and May this year.

The government is opposing the legal challenge, with its lawyers telling the court that the licensing of arms exports to Israel "is being kept under close and continuous review".