---
title: "Joint Call to Countries Part of the Global F-35 Jet Programme to Halt the Production and Transfer of Arms to Israel"
slug: "joint-call-to-countries-part-of-the-global-f-35-jet-programme-to-halt-the-production-and-transfer-of-arms-to-israel"
post_type: "post"
published_at: "2025-02-18T18:40:22+01:00"
modified_at: "2025-04-29T12:22:06+01:00"
author: "CIHRS"
url: "https://cihrs.org/joint-call-to-countries-part-of-the-global-f-35-jet-programme-to-halt-the-production-and-transfer-of-arms-to-israel/?lang=en"
category:
  - "International Advocacy Program"
causes_and_rights:
  - "Protection of Civilians"
country:
  - "Other"
  - "Palestine"
field:
  - "Regional and International Protection and Advocacy"
interest:
  - "Statements and Positions"
---

# Joint Call to Countries Part of the Global F-35 Jet Programme to Halt the Production and Transfer of Arms to Israel

We write to you as a group of organisations from partner countries to the global F-35 jet programme, and supportive organisations, calling on our Governments to immediately halt all arms transfers to Israel, directly and indirectly, including F-35 fighter jets, components, and spare parts thereof. After 466 days of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, we welcome the *limited* ceasefire which came into effect on 19 January, and call on our Governments to support every effort to permanently end the ongoing atrocities. The past 16 months have illustrated with devastating clarity that Israel is not committed to complying with international law. The fragility of the Gaza ceasefire underscores the risk of further violations and the need to halt arms exports to Israel, including F-35s. This is also highlighted by Israel’s continued [illegal use of military fighter jets](https://apidiakoniase.cdn.triggerfish.cloud/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Overkill-A-Critical-Appraisal-of-the-Use-of-Force-by-Israel-in-the-West-Bank.pdf) in the occupied West Bank, especially Jenin. Partners to the [F-35 programme](https://www.ploughshares.ca/reports/global-production-of-the-israeli-f-35i-joint-strike-fighter) have individually and collectively failed to prevent these jets from being used to commit serious violations of international law by Israel, most obviously across the occupied Palestinian territory, including international crimes, despite overwhelming evidence in this respect. States have either been unwilling to observe their international legal obligations and/or claimed that the structure of the F-35 programme means that it is not possible to apply arms controls to any end-user, making the entire programme incompatible with international law. Israel’s unprecedented bombardment and destruction of Gaza has led to immeasurable human suffering, environmental devastation, and humanitarian catastrophe. The [International Court of Justice](https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240126-pre-01-00-en.pdf) (ICJ) ordered provisional measures on Israel to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza in January 2024. In December 2024, Amnesty International’s investigation [concluded that](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/) Israel has committed and is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and Human Rights Watch [reported that](https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/19/israels-crime-extermination-acts-genocide-gaza) ‘Israeli authorities are responsible for the crime against humanity of extermination and for acts of genocide’. A temporary ceasefire does not signify an end to Israel’s violations of international law or nullify the longstanding risk that arms transfers to Israel might be used to commit or facilitate such violations. This includes, but is not limited to, Israel’s ongoing occupation and annexation of the Palestinian territories, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded is unlawful. Israel has killed more than [46,707 people in Gaza](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/15/the-human-toll-of-israels-war-on-gaza-by-the-numbers) and the remains of an [estimated 10,000 more people](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/20/rescuers-find-dozens-of-bodies-in-gaza-rubble-amid-israel-hamas-ceasefire) are still under the rubble. At least 90 percent of Palestinians in Gaza have been forcibly displaced, in conditions unfit for human survival. Israeli forces have [repeatedly attacked civilian objects](https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/279/68/pdf/n2427968.pdf), including aid distribution sites, tents, hospitals, schools and markets. Around 69 percent of [all structures in Gaza](https://unosat.org/products/4047) have been destroyed or damaged by the bombardment. Despite these devastating realities and crimes on the ground, our governments have continued to supply Israel through the F-35 programme. **F-35 programme** Governments from a number of F-35 partner countries - namely Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and [the UK](https://caat.org.uk/publications/the-uk-governments-partial-suspension-of-arms-export-licences-to-israel-and-the-f-35-exemption/) - have restricted some arms exports to Israel due to the risk of these weapons being used by Israel to commit violations of international law in Gaza. In September 2024, the UK government found that it was “unable to conclude anything other than” that for certain UK arms exports to Israel, including F-35 jets, there is a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Alarmingly, despite these irrefutable admissions, there has been a concerted effort to sustain the transfer of components to the F-35 programme, allowing for ongoing direct and indirect transfer to Israel. A number of incoherent positions have been put forward by F-35 partner countries allowing for the continued export of F-35 parts and components to Israel, including stating that arms licences to Israel have been suspended while allowing transfers under existing licences or supplying “indirectly” via the US or other F-35 partners. The UK has argued that for reasons of international peace and security it has disregarded its own arms export licensing criteria and international legal obligations to continue exporting components to the F-35 programme, allowing for onward transfer to Israel, [claiming](https://www.glanlaw.org/single-post/no-red-lines-for-uk-gov-on-atrocities-in-gaza) that it is a “matter of such gravity that it would have overridden any \[...\] further evidence of serious breaches of IHL”. Effectively, there are no circumstances in which this supply of F-35 components would be suspended. These jets have been operating in Gaza armed with munitions, including 2,000 lb bombs - explosives with a lethal radius up to 365 m, an area the equivalent of 58 football pitches. In June 2024, a [UN report identified these bombs](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/06/un-report-israeli-use-heavy-bombs-gaza-raises-serious-concerns-under-laws#:~:text=The%20report%20details%20six%20emblematic%20attacks%20involving%20the,buildings%2C%20a%20school%2C%20refugee%20camps%20and%20a%20market.) as having been used in “emblematic” cases of indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on Gaza that “led to high numbers of civilian fatalities and widespread destruction of civilian objects”. On 2 September 2024, the very day the UK Government announced an exemption for F-35 components, Danish NGO Danwatch revealed that an F-35 was used in July to drop three[ 2,000 lb bombs in an attack on a so-called “safe zone”](https://caat.org.uk/news/investigation-reveals-israel-used-partly-uk-made-f-35-in-attack-on-gaza-humanitarian-zone-in-july-killing-90/) on Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, killing 90 Palestinians. This bombardment follows the pattern of Israeli attacks in Gaza in violation of international humanitarian law. **Legal obligations and developments** All partners to the F-35 programme are States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), with the exception of the United States, which is a signatory. State Parties to the ATT are required to prevent both direct and indirect transfers of military equipment and technology, including parts and components, where there is an overriding risk that such equipment and technology could be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) or international human rights law. These and other binding obligations are contained within [Articles 6 and 7 of the ATT](https://thearmstradetreaty.org/hyper-images/file/ATT_English/ATT_English.pdf?templateId=137253#:~:text=A%20State%20Party%20shall%20not%20authorize%20any%20transfer,of%20the%20United%20Nations%2C%20in%20particular%20arms%20embargoes.). States are also bound by the obligation to ensure respect for IHL under Common Article 1 to the Geneva Convention and customary IHL, which [requires](https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciii-1949/article-1/commentary/2020?activeTab=#_Toc42428174) states “to refrain from transferring weapons if there is an expectation, based on facts or knowledge of past patterns, that such weapons would be used to violate the Conventions”. All F-35 partners have additional legislation reinforcing these international obligations at either national or European level. Continued arms transfers to the Israeli government are contrary to US law, which for example, prohibits the transfer of military aid to governments that restrict the delivery of US humanitarian assistance. Additionally, all F-35 partners have ratified or acceded to the Genocide Convention, and have committed to “prevent and punish” the crime of genocide. These obligations are reinforced by pronouncements of the ICJ, including where the Court reminded States Parties to the Genocide Convention of their international obligations regarding the transfer of arms to parties to an armed conflict, to avoid the risk that such arms might be used to violate the Convention in April 2024 ([para 24](https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/193/193-20240430-ord-01-00-en.pdf)). In [July 2024](https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240719-adv-01-00-en.pdf), the ICJ clarified that states must not aid or assist Israel in its unlawful occupation of occupied Palestinian territory, including through economic or trade dealings. The International Criminal Court (ICC) [issued arrest warrants](https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157286) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in November 2024. **Legal and political responses**  Across the jurisdictions of F-35 partner countries legal and political interventions have sought to enforce governments’ national and international legal obligations to halt arms exports to Israel, including parts for the F-35 jets. Legal cases have been undertaken in Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US. In the UK, Al-Haq and Global Legal Action Network are [taking the UK government to the High Court ](https://www.glanlaw.org/israel-weapons-sales)in a Judicial Review challenging the decision to exclude components for the global F-35 programme from the September 2024 suspension of around 30 arms licences to Israel. In November 2024, the Dutch Supreme Court of the Netherlands was advised by its advocate general to uphold the ruling by the Hague Court of Appeal [ordering the Dutch Government](https://www.rechtspraak.nl/Organisatie-en-contact/Organisatie/Gerechtshoven/Gerechtshof-Den-Haag/Nieuws/Paginas/The-Netherlands-has-to-stop-the-export-of-F-35-fighter-jet-parts-to-Israel.aspx) to block the export of F-35 parts from the Netherlands to Israel. It followed litigation brought by Oxfam Novib, PAX and The Rights Forum. In Australia, Al Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, represented by the Australian Centre for International Justice, made submissions requesting the Defence Minister revoke all current or extant export permits to Israel including via this US. As a result, the Government undertook a review which revealed that Australia had [‘lapsed’ or ‘amended’ 16 export](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/13/australia-amends-or-ends-16-defence-export-permits-to-israel-amid-review-ntwnfb) licences to Israel. The groups remain concerned that no transparency exists in relation to this review, including whether F-35 parts were in consideration. Further cases are ongoing in F-35 partner countries Canada and Denmark, as well as [Germany](https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/no-german-weapons-to-israel/) and [Belgium](https://www.belganewsagency.eu/ngos-sue-israeli-shipping-company-zim-for-trafficking-arms). **Conclusion** The failure by all F-35 partner nations to apply their domestic, regional or international legal obligations by halting the supply of F-35 parts and components to Israel has led to devastating and irreparable harm to Palestinians in Gaza. This failure indicates that partner nations are effectively either unable or unwilling to implement their purported arms export control regimes, or that they chose to apply the law selectively, excluding Palestinians from its protection. We call on all F-35 partners to do everything in their power to bring the F-35 programme in line with their legal obligations and immediately halt the direct and indirect transfer of F-35 parts and components to Israel. **Signatories** **Australia (F-35 Programme Partner)** 1. Amnesty International Australia 2. AusRelief 3. Australian Centre for International Justice 4. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) 5. Australian Social Workers for Palestine 6. Canberra Palestine and Climate Justice 7. Central West New South Wales for Palestine & We Vote for Palestine 8. Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine 9. Disrupt Wars 10. Free Gaza Australia 11. Free Palestine Melbourne 12. Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) 13. Independent & Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) Geelong & Vic Southwest 14. Inner West for Palestine 15. Institute of non-violence 16. Jewish Council of Australia 17. Jews Against the Occupation '48 18. Just Peace 19. Knitting Nannas, Central Coast and Midcoast 20. Medical Association for Prevention of War 21. Mums for Palestine 22. Neptune's Pirates 23. No Weapons for Genocide 24. Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine 25. Palestine Action Group Muloobinba 26. Palestine Network Shining Waters Region (PalNet SW), The United Church of Canada 27. People's Climate Assembly 28. Rising Tide 29. Settlement Services Australia 30. Social and Ecological Justice Commission (United Church of Canada) 31. Sydney Peace Foundation 32. Quakers Australia 33. Wage Peace **Austria** 34. Yante - Youth, Art, and Levante **Belgium**  35. Al-Haq Europe 36. Vredesactie **Canada (F-35 Programme Partner)** 37. Al Huda Institute Canada 38. Amnesty International Canadian Section 39. Arab Left Forum 40. Bathurst Street United Church 41. The Canadian BDS Coalition & International BDS Allies 42. Canadian Foreign Policy Institute 43. Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights 44. Canadian Muslim Healthcare Network 45. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East 46. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East Saskatoon Chapter (CJPME Sask chapter) 47. Collectif de Québec pour la paix / Quebec City Collective for Peace 48. Health Workers Alliance for Palestine 49. Independent Jewish Voices Canada 50. IslamicFamily 51. Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste 52. Justice For All Canada 53. Labour Against the Arms Trade 54. Manitoba Healthcare Workers for Palestine 55. Mennonite Church Manitoba Palestine Israel Network 56. Ontario Palestinian Rights Association (OPRA) 57. Oxfam-Québec 58. Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU) 59. Project of Heart 60. Project Ploughshares 61. Solidarité Sherbrooke-Gaza 62. RightonCanada 63. United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI) **Denmark (F-35 Programme Partner)** 64. ActionAid Denmark 65. Amnesty International Danmark 66. Oxfam Denmark **France**  67. Amnesty International France **Italy (F-35 Programme Partner)** 68. Rete Italiana Pace e Disarmo 69. Accademia Apuana della Pace 70. Amnesty International Italia 71. ARCI-Italy 72. Ass. Adl Zavidovici 73. Associazione Percorsi di pace 74. Associazioni Cristiane Lavoratori Italiani aps 75. AssoPacePalestina 76. Beati i costruttori di pace (Blessed Are the Peacemakers) 77. Center for Research and Elaboration on Democracy (CRED) 78. Centro Studi Sereno Regis 79. CIPAX Centro interconfessionale per la pace 80. Coordinamento Nazionale Comunità Accoglienti (CNCA) 81. COSPE NGO 82. Diritto Diretto 83. Emmaus Italia 84. Fondazione Finanza Etica 85. Istituto di Ricerche Internazionali Archivio Disarmo 86. MIR (Movimento internazionale della Riconciliazione) 87. Movimento Nonviolento 88. Scuola di Pace del Comune di Senigallia 89. Un Ponte Per **India** 90. Gig Worker Association **Iraq** 91. Al-Taqwa Association for Women and Children's Rights **Ireland** 92. Anti Racism World Cup **Jamaica** 93. Kingston and St Andrew Action Forum **Jordan**  94. Campaign Against Gaza Genocide **Lebanon**  95. Al-Jana Center 96. KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation 97. Permanent Peace Movement 98. WILPF Lebanon **Morocco**  99. Association Mains Libres **México** 100. Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos **Nepal**  101. Path 102. Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal (WPD Nepal) **The Netherlands (F-35 Programme Partner)** 103. Amnesty International Netherlands 104. Feminists of Maastricht 105. Oxfam Novib 106. PAX 107. The Rights Forum 108. Stop Wapenhandel 109. Transnational Institute **Norway (F-35 Programme Partner)** 110. Amnesty International Norway 111. The Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine 112. Changemaker 113. Fagforbundet - Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees 114. Jødiske Stemmer for Rettferdig Fred (Jewish Voices. - Norway) 115. NTL OsloMet Metropolitan University (trade union) 116. The Palestine Committee of Norway 117. Palestinas Venner OsloMert 118. Sosialistisk Venstreparti **Palestine** 119. Al-Haq 120. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights 121. International Committee to Support the Rights of the Palestinian People 122. The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy-MIFTAH 123. Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development PWWSD **Switzerland**  124. Control Arms **Sri Lanka** 125. Forum on Disarmament and Development **Turkiye**  126. Worldwide Lawyers Association **United Kingdom (F-35 Programme Partner)** 127. ActionAid UK 128. Action For Humanity 129. Action on Armed Violence 130. Amnesty International UK 131. Anglican Pacifist Fellowship 132. Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) 133. Bank Better 134. Boycott Bloody Insurance 135. British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association 136. British Palestinian Committee 137. Cambridge Branch - Communist Party of Britain 138. Cambridge Stop the War Coalition 139. Cambridgeshire Keep Our NHS Public 140. Campaign Against Arms Trade 141. Campaign against Misrepresentation in Public Affairs, Information and the News (CAMPAIN) 142. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament 143. Coal Action Network 144. Common Wealth 145. Conflict and Environment Observatory 146. Council for Arab-British Understanding 147. Cuba Solidarity Campaign 148. Embrace the Middle East 149. FairSquare 150. ForcesWatch 151. Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (Glasgow) 152. Glasgow Palestine Human Rights Campaign 153. Global Justice Now 154. Global Legal Action Network 155. Health Workers 4 Palestine 156. Independent Catholic News 157. International Centre for Justice for Palestinians 158. International Solidarity Movement Scotland 159. The Iona Community 160. Jewish Network for Palestine 161. Merseyside Pax Christi 162. National Justice and Peace Network, England and Wales 163. Omega Research Foundation 164. Palestine Action 165. Palestine House 166. Palestine Solidarity Campaign 167. Pax Christi England and Wales 168. The Peace and Justice Project 169. Richmond & Kingston Palestine Solidarity Campaign 170. Sabeel-Kairos UK 171. Saferworld 172. Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) 173. Scotland Against Criminalising Communities 174. Shadow World Investigations 175. Thanet 4 Palestine 176. Tipping Point UK 177. War on Want 178. United Tech and Allied Workers 179. Women in Black Edinburgh 180. Women in Black London 181. Workers for a Free Palestine **United States (F-35 Programme Lead Partner)** 182. Action Corps 183. American Friends Service Committee 184. Amnesty International USA 185. Art Forces 186. Association for Investment in Popular Action Committees 187. Austin For Palestine Coalition 188. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) 189. Center for Constitutional Rights 190. Doctors Against Genocide 191. Episcopal Peace Fellowship Palestine Israel Network 192. Fellowship of Reconciliation 193. Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) 194. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) 195. Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ 196. Green Mountain Solidarity With Palestine 197. Green Mountain Veterans For Peace 198. Honor the Earth 199. Indiana Center for Middle East Peace 200. KinderUSA 201. Madison-Rafah Sister City Project 202. The Middle East Children's Alliance for Peace 203. National Lawyers Guild- Palestine Sub Committee 204. New Mexico Jews for a Free Palestine 205. A New Policy 206. Nonviolence International 207. Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 208. Palestinian Youth Movement 209. Peace Action 210. People’s Arms Embargo 211. RepresentUS New Mexico 212. Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin 213. Santa Fe Democratic Socialists of America 214. Security in Context 215. Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Northern New Mexico chapter 216. Tech Justice Law Project 217. USA Palestine Mental Health Network 218. Vermont and New Hampshire Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild 219. Will Miller Social Justice Lecture Series 220. WESPAC Foundation, Inc. **International** 221. Al-Haq Europe 222. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies 223. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) 224. Emergent Justice Collective 225. Human Rights Watch 226. International Coalition to Stop Genocide in Palestine 227. Oxfam International 228. Pax Christi International 229. United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) 230. War Resisters' International 231. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom 232. World BEYOND War

---

**Fact Sheet**

 **Legal Contexts**  All F-35 partners have additional legislation reinforcing their international obligations at either national or European level. - **Australia’s** export control regime is regulated by the [Defence Export Control Act 2012](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2012A00153/latest/text), with regard to mandatory criteria found in [Defence Export Control Regulations 2013 regulation 8](https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2013L00902/latest/text) (and complementary Customs Regulations). This includes consideration of the risk that the goods being licensed, “may be used to commit or facilitate serious abuses of human rights” or “may go to or become available to a country where it may be used in a way contrary to Australia’s international obligations or commitments” amongst a number of other relevant criteria.
- Arms export controls in **Canada** are regulated at the national level under the [Export and Import Permits Act](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/e-19/FullText.html) (EIPA). Section 7.3(1) states that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is required to review all permits and determine whether the equipment specified could be used to “*commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law*”, among other criteria. Under Section 7.4, if there is a substantial risk that any transfers would lead to these negative consequences, and such risks cannot be mitigated, the export must be denied.
- Partners in the **EU,** namely **Denmark, Italy,** and **the Netherlands** are regulated by the [EU Common Position](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02008E0944-20190917) on Arms Export Controls, including Criterion 2 c), which states that member States shall: “*deny an export licence if there is a clear risk that the military technology or equipment to be exported might be used in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law*.”
- **Norway:** Norwegian [law asserts](https://aoav.org.uk/2024/who-is-arming-israel-other-global-exports-to-israel/) that the sale of weapons to countries in wars that [violate the rules of jus ad bellum](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumentarkiv/regjeringen-stoere/andre-dokumenter/ud/2025/retningslinjer-for-utenriksdepartementets-behandling-av-soknader-om-eksport-av-forsvarsmateriell/id2358851/) is prohibited.
- **The UK** is subject to the [Strategic Export Licensing Criteria](https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-12-08/hcws449), including Criterion 2 c): “*Having assessed the recipient country's attitude towards relevant principles established by instruments of international humanitarian law, the Government will:*
 
1. *c) Not grant a licence if it determines there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.*”
 
- **The US:** Arms transfers to the Israeli government are contrary to US law, which for example, prohibits the transfer of military aid to governments that restrict the delivery of US humanitarian assistance.
 
 **Legal Cases: F-35 programme partner countries**  **Australia** - In **Australia** a group of Palestinian human rights organisations, Al Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, represented by the Australian Centre for International Justice, filed for preliminary discovery of all export permits issued since 7 October to Israel in the Federal Court. The case was [discontinued last year](https://armstradelitigationmonitor.org/overview/australian-arms-and-palestine/), on account that no permits were issued other than for Australia’s own capability.
- However for reasons related to broader issues of transparency, from April to June 2024, the groups engaged in legal submissions and arguments requesting the Defence Minister revoke all current or extant export permits that may go to or become available to Israel and revoke any permits issued to companies that operate on a licence free basis to the US, due to existing treaties.
- As a result of that application, the Government announced in June it was undertaking a review of 66 current or extant permits to Israel. In November it was revealed that Australia had [‘lapsed’ or ‘amended’ 16 export](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/13/australia-amends-or-ends-16-defence-export-permits-to-israel-amid-review-ntwnfb) licences to Israel with the review to conclude in December. The Government asserted that the “very high number of civilian deaths” imposed a tougher test on the granting of permits. The groups are concerned that no transparency exists in relation to this review, including whether F-35 parts were in consideration, and whether the reassessments have been done properly according to law, and remain seized of that matter.
 
 **Canada** - In January of 2024, Canada suspended the issuance of new export permits for the transfer of military goods to Israel. Later, in September 2024, [**Canada announced**](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/joly-suspensions-analysis-1.7320990) it had suspended approximately 30 active export permits to transfer military materiel to Israel. However, all other previously-approved arms transfers to Israel have [continued unabated](https://www.readthemaple.com/already-approved-military-exports-to-israel-will-continue/), including a[ licence](https://www.ourcommons.ca/content/Committee/441/FAAE/WebDoc/WD13113401/13113401/DepartmentOfForeignAffairsTradeAndDevelopment-ValidExportPermitsToIsraelOn2024-06-21-b.pdf) for the direct export of ‘Parts and components of Weapons Bay Door of the F-35 Program’. Furthermore, all transfers of F-35 components to Israel through the US are exempt from Canada’s individual export permit requirements and therefore would also continue to be transferred. In March 2024, Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) and Al-Haq, together with four individuals, filed an [application for Judicial Review in Canada](https://armstradelitigationmonitor.org/overview/canadian-arms-and-palestine/). The applicants seek, among other things, to halt the transfer, whether direct or indirect, of Canadian-made F-35 components to Israel.
 
 **Denmark** - In **Denmark** a number of organisations have taken a case against the Danish Government, including Amnesty International Denmark, Oxfam Denmark, MS Action Aid Denmark, and Al-Haq. In March, the Danish government announced it was implementing “a very restrictive approach” to arms exports to Israel. However it transpired that these restrictions apply to new export licences only. Existing licences, including those covering exports related to F-35s, remain in place.
 
 **Italy** - The **Italian** Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni [said in October](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241017-italy-pm-announces-arms-embargo-on-israel/) 2024 that the Italian Government suspended the issuing of all new licences for the export of military materials to Israel from the start of the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip. However, export licences issued before 7th October are being honoured and have been delivered against during the war.
 
 **The Netherlands** - In February 2024 litigation in **the Netherlands** by Oxfam Novib, Vredesbeweging PAX Nederland and The Rights Forum resulted in the [Court ordering the Dutch Government](https://www.rechtspraak.nl/Organisatie-en-contact/Organisatie/Gerechtshoven/Gerechtshof-Den-Haag/Nieuws/Paginas/The-Netherlands-has-to-stop-the-export-of-F-35-fighter-jet-parts-to-Israel.aspx) to block the export of F-35 parts from the Netherlands to Israel. The court found that there is a clear risk that Israel’s F-35 fighter jets might be used in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law.
- In November 2024 the Dutch Supreme Court of the Netherlands was advised by its advocate general to uphold the ruling by the Hague Court of Appeal [ordering the Dutch Government](https://www.rechtspraak.nl/Organisatie-en-contact/Organisatie/Gerechtshoven/Gerechtshof-Den-Haag/Nieuws/Paginas/The-Netherlands-has-to-stop-the-export-of-F-35-fighter-jet-parts-to-Israel.aspx) to block the export of F-35 parts from the Netherlands to Israel.
 
 **UK**- In the **UK** Al-Haq and Global Legal Action Network are taking the UK government to the High Court in a Judicial Review over continued weapons exports to Israel, despite the ongoing violations of international law. The UK Government’s decision on 2 September to suspend 30 arms licences to Israel, excluded components for the global F-35 programme and was taken a day before a hearing was due in the High Court.
 
 **US**- Palestinian families supported by DAWN [filed a federal lawsuit](https://dawnmena.org/united-states-palestinian-families-sue-state-department-to-suspend-u-s-military-assistance-to-abusive-israeli-security-forces/) in December 2024 under the Administrative Procedure Act ([APA](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/administrative_procedure_act)) challenging the State Department's arbitrary failure to implement the [Leahy Law](https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/human-rights/leahy-law-fact-sheet/) prohibiting US assistance to abusive Israeli security forces.
- In November 2023 Palestinian human rights organizations, together with Palestinians in Gaza and the US, [filed a lawsuit in US federal court](https://ccrjustice.org/DCIP-v-Biden) against former President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Austin for the US officials’ [failure to prevent and complicity](https://ccrjustice.org/stop-the-genocide) in the Israeli government’s [unfolding genocide](https://ccrjustice.org/israel-s-unfolding-crime-genocide-palestinian-people-us-failure-prevent-and-complicity-genocide) against them. The court found that Israel’s assault and siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza plausibly constitutes genocide and “implor\[ed\]” the Biden administration to examine its “unflagging support” for Israel. Notwithstanding these findings, the court denied the preliminary injunction motion and granted the government's motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction over the administration’s conduct of foreign relations.
 
 **Legal cases elsewhere**  **Germany**- ECCHR has filed several [requests for provisional measures](https://www.ecchr.eu/en/case/no-german-weapons-to-israel/) against German exports of weapons of war and armaments to Israel, concerning weapons and armaments used in Gaza. Urgent requests have been submitted to administrative courts in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main on behalf of up to five Palestinian plaintiffs, all of whom live in Gaza and have already lost one or more family members as a result of the conduct of the Israeli military. The lawsuits are supported by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights from Gaza, as well as the Palestinian human rights organization Al Haq from Ramallah in the West Bank.
- In April 2024 lawyers in Berlin filed an urgent application against the German government to stop the approval of war weapons exports to Israel. The urgent appeal was filed on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza who are demanding an immediate halt to the supply of weapons to Israel. The case is supported by the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), [Law for Palestine](https://law4palestine.org/) under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative, and Forensis.
 
 **Belgium** - A group of Belgian NGOs [filed a criminal complaint](https://armstradelitigationmonitor.org/associated-cases/belgium-and-arms-transit/) against the Israeli shipping company ZIM for violating Belgium's arms trade decree in May 2024. The NGOs filing the complaint include 11.11.11, Association Belgo-Palestinienne, Al-Haq Europe, Broederlijk Delen, De-Colonizer, Vrede vzw, Oxfam and Vredesactie.
 
 **France** - In a decision handed down on 18 June 2024 the Paris Court of Appeal overturned the decision taken by the Bobigny court on 14 June, which had banned the entry of Israeli delegations and Israeli arms subsidiaries into the EUROSATORY arms fair. Al-Haq and its partner organisations Action sécurité éthique républicaines (ASER), Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS) had [filed an interim injunction against COGES](https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/23321.html), the organiser of the EUROSATORY arms fair, to take effective measures to prevent Israeli arms companies and their subsidiaries from selling their technologies in France.
- In October 2024 Al-Haq and partners filed a legal notice calling on SOGENA, Organiser of EURONAVAL 2024, to take all measures to prevent weapon sales likely to be used in crimes in the OPT and Lebanon. The notice was filed on behalf of the organisations Al-Haq, EuroPalestine, UJFP, Stop Fueling War and Aser, and the collectives Stop Arming Israel France, Urgence Palestine, Les Comités d'Etudiants en Soutien à la Palestine de Paris.
- In April 2024 11 NGOs including Amnesty International France, ASER and Attac [filed a court case](https://www.politico.eu/article/11-ngos-take-france-to-court-over-arms-sales-to-israel/) to force France to halt arms deliveries to Israel.