Current:Home > MyRights groups file legal challenge with UK court, urging a halt on British arms exports to Israel-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Rights groups file legal challenge with UK court, urging a halt on British arms exports to Israel
View Date:2024-12-23 10:19:32
LONDON (AP) — Legal and human rights groups have filed a legal challenge with Britain’s High Court calling for the U.K. to stop granting licenses for weapons exports to Israel, activists said Thursday.
Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and U.K.-based Global Legal Action Network said they took the step after Britain’s government repeatedly ignored their written requests to suspend arms sales to Israel following the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack that triggered the current Israeli-Hamas war.
Ahmed Abofoul, an international lawyer at Al-Haq, claimed that Britain “has a legal and moral obligation” to not grant arms exports licenses to governments that commit atrocities. There have been widespread claims of breaches of international law by Hamas and Israeli forces since the war erupted.
Rights groups have long opposed British arms exports to Israel.
The Campaign Against Arms Trade nonprofit group says British industry, namely BAE Systems, provides some 15% of the components in the F35 stealth combat aircraft used by Israel.
The group alleges that the jets were used in the latest bombardment of Gaza, which Israel launched in response to the Oct. 7 attack, followed by a ground offensive in the besieged territory. The group says the components, along with other military equipment, are exported under “open general export licenses” that lack transparency.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that Britain stands by Israel in its “darkest hour” as it wages war on Hamas following the Palestinian militant group’s Oct. 7 attack.
Last month, Britain’s Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said U.K. arms exports to Israel were “relatively small,” when he was asked whether weapons sold by Britain been used in violation of international humanitarian law and why such sales have not been suspended in light of the mounting death toll in Gaza.
Shapps said his government will not grant export licenses to any destination where applications do not meet its criteria.
“Our defense exports to Israel are relatively small -- just 42 million pounds ($52 million) last year. They go through a very strict criteria before anything is exported,” Shapps told lawmakers.
The Global Legal Action Network said it also filed a legal challenge Thursday against defense and security giant BAE Systems.
“Given that BAE is known to export components to Israel under these U.K. licenses we are challenging, they are a potential interested party in the litigation,” said Siobhán Allen, one of the lawyers acting for the group in the case.
Activists have staged protests outside BAE Systems factories across the U.K. in recent weeks, urging the company to halt trade links with Israel.
veryGood! (5774)
Related
- Wind-whipped wildfire near Reno prompts evacuations but rain begins falling as crews arrive
- Heart reschedules tour following Ann Wilson's cancer treatment. 'The best is yet to come!'
- Omaha police arrest suspect after teen critically hurt in shooting at high school
- The reviews are in: Ryan Seacrest hosts first 'Wheel of Fortune' and fans share opinions
- Missouri prosecutor says he won’t charge Nelly after an August drug arrest
- Unbeatable Walmart Flash Deals: Save Up to 79% on Home Cleaning Essentials, Bedding, Kitchen Items & More
- Tyrese Gibson Arrested for Failure to Pay Child Support
- 'American Ninja Warrior' Vance Walker on grueling back-to-back victories: 'So difficult'
- Man found dead in tanning bed at Indianapolis Planet Fitness; family wants stricter policies
- Books like ACOTAR: Spicy fantasy books to read after ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’
Ranking
- Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian Team Up for SKIMS Collab With Dolce & Gabbana After Feud
- Tyreek Hill detainment: What we know, what we don't about incident with police
- NFL Week 1 overreactions: Can Jets figure it out? Browns, Bengals in trouble
- Surprise! New 70% Off Styles Added to the Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale—Hurry, They’re Selling Out Fast
- 2025 Medicare Part B premium increase outpaces both Social Security COLA and inflation
- What James Earl Jones had to say about love, respect and his extraordinary career
- James Earl Jones remembered by 'Star Wars' co-star Mark Hamill, George Lucas, more
- 'SNL' star Chloe Troast exits show, was 'not asked back'
Recommendation
-
Pie, meet donuts: Krispy Kreme releases Thanksgiving pie flavor ahead of holidays
-
Two women hospitalized after a man doused them with gas and set them on fire
-
Deshaun Watson, Daniel Jones among four quarterbacks under most pressure after Week 1
-
Sarah Hyland Loves Products That Make Her Life Easier -- Check Out Her Must-Haves & Couch Rot Essentials
-
Georgia's humbling loss to Mississippi leads college football winners and losers for Week 11
-
Ed Kranepool, Mets' Hall of Famer and member of 1969 Miracle Mets, dead at 79
-
Keurig to pay $1.5M settlement over statements on the recyclability of its K-Cup drink pods
-
New Hampshire primary voters to pick candidates for short but intense general election campaigns