Global NGOs urge immediate halt to F-35 fighter jet exports to Israel over illegal use in Gaza and West Bank

• More than 230 civil society organizations demand an immediate halt to F-35 arms transfers to Israel, citing violations of international law.
• The coalition warns that Israel’s use of F-35s in Gaza and the West Bank has caused devastating harm, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023.
• F-35 partner nations, including the U.S. and UK, are accused of complicity in alleged war crimes by supplying components for the jets.
• The coalition urges action to prevent further violence, emphasizing the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire and ongoing military actions in the West Bank.

More than 230 civil society organizations worldwide are demanding that governments producing F-35 fighter jets immediately halt all arms transfers to Israel, arguing that the exports violate international law.

The coalition, which includes prominent NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, sent letters on Tuesday to government ministers in F-35 partner countries, including the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The groups warn that Israel’s use of the advanced jets in Gaza and the occupied West Bank has caused “devastating and irreparable harm” to Palestinians, with over 48,000 killed since October 2023.

The organizations argue that F-35 partner nations are complicit in Israel’s alleged war crimes by continuing to supply parts and components for the jets. They also highlight the fragility of the current Gaza ceasefire, which they say risks further violations if arms transfers are not stopped.

F-35 exports and international law violations

The F-35 fighter jet, produced by a global consortium led by U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, has become a focal point of controversy. The coalition claims that Israel has used the jets to carry out indiscriminate airstrikes in densely populated areas, including alleged “safe zones” in Gaza. In one documented instance, an F-35 dropped three 2,000-pound bombs on Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, killing 90 Palestinians.

“The overwhelming evidence of Israel’s grave violations of international law makes the F-35 partner nations – all of which are signatories to the Geneva Conventions, with the majority also having ratified the Arms Trade Treaty – complicit in these actions,” said Shawan Jabarin, general director of Al-Haq, a Palestinian NGO involved in legal challenges against the exports.

The temporary ceasefire in Gaza, which began in January, has provided a brief respite from the violence. However, the coalition warns that the ceasefire’s fragility underscores the urgent need to halt arms exports to Israel. They also point to Israel’s continued use of military fighter jets in the occupied West Bank, particularly in Jenin, as evidence of ongoing violations.

“The unwillingness to halt or pause the production of F-35 components reflects an interpretation of national and international law that excludes Palestinian lives,” said Marte Hansen Haugan, president of Changemaker, a Norwegian youth NGO.

Legal challenges and political obstacles

Legal actions to halt F-35 exports are underway in several countries, including the UK, Netherlands, and Australia. However, the coalition faces significant political and logistical hurdles. The F-35 program operates under a 2006 memorandum of understanding, which requires consensus among partner nations to halt components destined for specific countries.

In the UK, court documents revealed that the government acknowledged a “clear risk” of Israel committing war crimes using F-35s but argued that suspending parts would disrupt the global fleet and threaten international peace and security.

As the Gaza ceasefire remains precarious, the coalition’s call for an immediate halt to F-35 exports underscores the growing international pressure on Israel and its allies. The NGOs argue that continuing to supply arms to Israel not only violates international law but also perpetuates the cycle of violence in the region.

“The F-35 jet programme is emblematic of the west’s complicity in Israel’s crimes against Palestinians,” said Katie Fallon, advocacy manager at the Campaign Against Arms Trade. “These jets were instrumental in Israel’s 466-day bombardment of Gaza, in crimes that include war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”

With legal challenges mounting and public scrutiny intensifying, the question remains whether F-35 partner nations will prioritize international law over political and economic interests. For now, the coalition insists that the time to act is now, before the fragile ceasefire collapses and more lives are lost.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

MiddleEastMonitor.com

TheGuardian.com

Reuters.com