Overview

• The High Court dismissed Al-Haq’s bid to block exports, ruling that the government lawfully maintained the carve-out for British-made F-35 components.
• Justices Males and Steyn held that licence decisions for defence equipment are political matters reserved for the executive and Parliament, not the courts.
• In September 2024 the government suspended about 30 of 350 military export licences over risk of breaches in Gaza but exempted F-35 parts to preserve the multinational supply programme.
• Defence Secretary John Healey told judges that halting exports would disrupt the entire F-35 collaboration and undermine NATO and international security.
• Al-Haq, supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam, said the ruling fails to prevent potential humanitarian law violations and vowed to pursue further legal and advocacy actions.