A Palestinian legal advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against the UK government, accusing it of fuelling Israel’s assault on Gaza by continuing to export components for F-35 fighter jets. The case, brought by Al-Haq, argues that Britain is breaching its obligations under international law by exempting these exports from a broader suspension of arms licences.

While the UK did freeze some weapon exports to the Israeli occupation in late 2024 over concerns about war crimes, it made a deliberate exception for the F-35 programme—a decision reportedly influenced by pressure from the Ministry of Defence and fears of upsetting relations with the US. Al-Haq contends that this carve-out is not only morally indefensible, but also unlawful under the Geneva Conventions.

As Gaza faces total collapse amid relentless bombardment and famine, the case raises urgent questions about the UK's role in enabling what human rights organisations are increasingly calling a genocide. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how Western governments justify arms deals in the face of mounting evidence of war crimes.