Rights Groups Challenge UK's Arms Exports to Israel in High Court

The legal action follows ignored requests to halt arms sales amid ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict, with BAE Systems also facing a challenge for its role in the exports.

Rights groups, including Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and U.K.-based Global Legal Action Network, have filed a legal challenge with Britain’s High Court, urging the U.K. to stop granting licenses for weapons exports to Israel.
The legal action comes after the U.K. government repeatedly ignored requests to suspend arms sales to Israel following the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack that triggered the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war.
BAE Systems, a British industry, provides about 15% of the components in the F35 stealth combat aircraft used by Israel. These components, along with other military equipment, are exported under 'open general export licenses' that lack transparency.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed support for Israel, while Defense Secretary Grant Shapps stated that U.K. arms exports to Israel were 'relatively small' and go through a 'very strict criteria' before being exported.
The Global Legal Action Network has also filed a legal challenge against BAE Systems, and activists have staged protests outside BAE Systems factories across the U.K., urging the company to halt trade links with Israel.