What you need to know: A Palestinian NGO, Al-Haq, has filed a legal challenge in London to stop the export of parts for Israel’s F-35 fleet. The UK recently suspended 30 arms export licenses to Israel over humanitarian law concerns, but excluded F-35 components, citing global security implications.

-Al-Haq claims the Israeli Air Force used F-35s to target civilian areas in Gaza, a charge the IDF denies, pointing to Hamas’ use of human shields and underground tunnels.

-While the lawsuit is unlikely to halt Israel’s operations, it highlights increasing control over the use of the F-35 and could complicate the supply chain for the global fleet.

The biggest threat to Israel’s F-35 fleet may be lawyers

Lawyers for a Palestinian non-governmental organization (NGO) have filed a legal challenge in London seeking to halt exports of parts for the Lockheed Martin F-35 multi-role jet to the Middle Eastern nation.

Al-Haq, based in the West Bank, took legal action against the UK Department of Business and Trade, filing a claim at the High Court in London. The group pursues “alleged rights violations by Israel and the Palestinian Authority.” Reuters reported.

Britain has already suspended arms export licenses

In September, the UK government suspended around 30 arms export licenses to Israel, citing concerns over international humanitarian law.

“The UK’s robust export licensing criteria state that the government will not issue export licenses if the items could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law,” the British government said in a statement. “The suspension will not change the UK’s strong support for Israel’s security and the decision will be kept under review.”

Exempted from the export ban were components for F-35 Lightning IIand London specified that components for the fifth-generation stealth fighter would be “out of the question,” but added, “unless they go directly to Israel.”

The decision stated: “Any suspension of those pooled parts is not possible without having a significant effect on the global F35 fleet, with serious implications for international peace and security.”

Al-Haq claimed that London’s decision was “illegal” and had previously claimed that F-35s were used by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to strike civilian targets.

“The deployment of F-35s by Israel has been repeatedly confirmed since the current start of attacks on Gaza, including their role in dropping 2000lb bombs on densely populated areas,” the NGO said in a statement from September.

The lawsuit is unlikely to stop Israel, but it could ground the F-35

Israel began its attack on Gaza after October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on southern Israel by Hamas, backed by Iran. According to Israeli figures, around 1,200 people were killed, including hundreds of young people attending a music festival. In addition, 250 hostages were taken.

Israel continued to conduct combat operations in Gaza to eliminate Hamas, and much of Gaza City – the most densely occupied city in the Middle East – was left in ruins. The IDF claimed that Hamas often employs civilians and human shields and maintains operations centers under schools, hospitals and other civilian buildings — all connected by a massive tunnel complex that has earned it its nickname. “The Gaza Metro”.

Human rights groups have argued that F-35s with British-made components were tied civilian casualties, and there have also been accusations that defense firms are somehow “profiting” from the Gaza conflict. The IDF disputes the claims. However, last winter a Dutch court stopped exporting of F-35 components from the Netherlands to Israel.

Experience and expertise of the author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a writer from Michigan. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites with more than 3,200 articles published over a twenty-year career in journalism. He writes regularly on military hardware, firearms history, cyber security, politics and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: (email protected).

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