LONDON: Britain’s High Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a legal challenge later this year over the continued UK government’s arms exports to Israel amidst its ongoing bombardment campaign in Gaza killing over 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
A coalition of legal advocacy groups has initiated the challenge, seeking to examine the government’s authorization of military parts and arms sales to Israel, alleging that such exports may contribute to violations of international humanitarian law and potential war crimes.
The UK’s strategic licensing criteria stipulate that weapons should not be exported when there is a clear risk of their use in violations of international humanitarian law. However, the government’s decision to maintain arms sales to Israel has sparked controversy and legal action.
The Department for Business and Trade, responsible for authorizing such exports, is contesting the legal challenge, setting the stage for a full hearing scheduled for October after preliminary legal matters are addressed.
Earlier attempts to expedite the case were rejected by the court in February, a move opposed by government lawyers.
Dearbhla Minogue, a senior lawyer at the Global Legal Action Network involved in the case, criticized the government’s approach, describing the process as “painstakingly slow.” She urged the government to halt weapons sales to Israel in light of the urgency of the situation in Gaza.
