Government Accused of 'Facilitating Genocide' in Gaza Over Shipment of Fighter Jet Parts to Israel
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The UK Government has been accused of being "disingenuous" in both court and Parliament and of "facilitating genocide" over its position on shipments of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
The claim was made by Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and Al-Haq who took the Government to the High Court last week in an attempt to stem the supply of parts that may be used - in breach of international humanitarian law - in Gaza.
Al-Haq, a group based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, took legal action against Britain's Department for Business and Trade over its decision to exempt F-35 parts when it suspended some arms export licences last year. The case, which concluded on 16 May, was supported by a raft of British human rights groups including GLAN, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam.
Following the hearing, Gearóid Ó Cuinn, director of GLAN, said the Government has now been "exposed as being disingenuous in Parliament and in court" and added that "this merry-go-round of delay and inaction is facilitating genocide and needs to stop".
He lamented that a decision in its challenge, will "come far too late for the people of Gaza who are being starved to death", but urged the Government to "immediately end arms sales and other forms of military support to Israel and apply sanctions".
On Thursday, The Guardian reported that 29 children and elderly people had died from starvation in Gaza in the last two days, and the UN warned this week that 14,000 Palestinian babies could die over the coming year unless action is taken to ease the crisis.
Ó Cuinn comments also came as Britain issued fresh sanctions against Israel over its "morally unjustifiable" escalation of violence, and demanded an end to its "cruel and indefensible" 11-week block on humanitarian aid which Foreign Secretary David Lammy branded as "monstrous".
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Defence Minister Maria Eagle spoke at a private Israel Independence Day meeting and said the UK would continue to back the country
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In parliament, the Government has maintained its claim that it is for the courts to decide whether Britain is complying with its legal obligations in respect of the shipment. On 14 May, Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan stated: "Whether or not we abide by our legal obligations is a question that will be determined by the courts. It is being determined by the courts this week, so I will leave it to the courts to make judgments on our obligation".
Yet in court, the Government argued the opposite, saying the matter was not for the judiciary to examine.
The Government has been telling parliament that it is unable to answer questions regarding its decision to indirectly arm Israel because that decision is being tested in the courts, and at the same time telling the judiciary that it cannot examine that decision because that is the role of parliament
Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, lawyer at Glan
Andrews-Briscoe added: "All of this is happening in the context of Israel's ever-escalating efforts to annihilate the Palestinian people. The UN's humanitarian chief has warned that 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours without aid. Will nothing move this government to act?"
The Government's lawyers argued during the hearing that there is "a tenable view that no genocide has occurred or is occurring".
The court heard that, although the Government accepted that "conduct which could, in principle, satisfy the physical component of genocide continues to take place in Gaza" - they believe the Israeli Government has shown no intent to commit ...
Our monthly print edition, packed with exclusive investigations, features and columns ONLINE NOW
The UK Government has been accused of being "disingenuous" in both court and Parliament and of "facilitating genocide" over its position on shipments of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
The claim was made by Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and Al-Haq who took the Government to the High Court last week in an attempt to stem the supply of parts that may be used - in breach of international humanitarian law - in Gaza.
Al-Haq, a group based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, took legal action against Britain's Department for Business and Trade over its decision to exempt F-35 parts when it suspended some arms export licences last year. The case, which concluded on 16 May, was supported by a raft of British human rights groups including GLAN, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam.
Following the hearing, Gearóid Ó Cuinn, director of GLAN, said the Government has now been "exposed as being disingenuous in Parliament and in court" and added that "this merry-go-round of delay and inaction is facilitating genocide and needs to stop".
He lamented that a decision in its challenge, will "come far too late for the people of Gaza who are being starved to death", but urged the Government to "immediately end arms sales and other forms of military support to Israel and apply sanctions".
On Thursday, The Guardian reported that 29 children and elderly people had died from starvation in Gaza in the last two days, and the UN warned this week that 14,000 Palestinian babies could die over the coming year unless action is taken to ease the crisis.
Ó Cuinn comments also came as Britain issued fresh sanctions against Israel over its "morally unjustifiable" escalation of violence, and demanded an end to its "cruel and indefensible" 11-week block on humanitarian aid which Foreign Secretary David Lammy branded as "monstrous".
Labour Minister Defends RAF Gaza Surveillance Flights Amid Growing Scrutiny of UK-Israel Relationship
Defence Minister Maria Eagle spoke at a private Israel Independence Day meeting and said the UK would continue to back the country
Olly Haynes
In parliament, the Government has maintained its claim that it is for the courts to decide whether Britain is complying with its legal obligations in respect of the shipment. On 14 May, Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan stated: "Whether or not we abide by our legal obligations is a question that will be determined by the courts. It is being determined by the courts this week, so I will leave it to the courts to make judgments on our obligation".
Yet in court, the Government argued the opposite, saying the matter was not for the judiciary to examine.
The Government has been telling parliament that it is unable to answer questions regarding its decision to indirectly arm Israel because that decision is being tested in the courts, and at the same time telling the judiciary that it cannot examine that decision because that is the role of parliament
Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, lawyer at Glan
Andrews-Briscoe added: "All of this is happening in the context of Israel's ever-escalating efforts to annihilate the Palestinian people. The UN's humanitarian chief has warned that 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours without aid. Will nothing move this government to act?"
The Government's lawyers argued during the hearing that there is "a tenable view that no genocide has occurred or is occurring".
The court heard that, although the Government accepted that "conduct which could, in principle, satisfy the physical component of genocide continues to take place in Gaza" - they believe the Israeli Government has shown no intent to commit ...
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