UK’s F-35 exports more important than stopping genocide, lawyers to argue

High court case to test whether ministers have illegally supplied Israel parts that may be used to attack Palestinians

Preserving the British role in the F-35 jet fighter programme takes precedence over the need to comply with UK laws on arms export controls, or any UK obligation to prevent a genocide in Israel, UK government lawyers will argue in court this week.

The long-awaited high court case will test whether ministers have broken the law by continuing to supply parts for the F-35 programme that may be used by Israel to attack Palestinians in Gaza. The four-day case starts on Tuesday and has taken nearly a year to come to court.