Over 230 global NGOs say all F-35 exports to Israel are unlawful

More than 230 global civil society organisations, including those taking legal action in five different countries, are calling on governments producing F-35 fighter jets to immediately halt all arms transfers to Israel.

“The past 16 months have illustrated with devastating clarity that Israel is not committed to complying with international law,” the organisations wrote in a letter released on Tuesday.

They welcomed the temporary ceasefire in Gaza, but warned that its fragility risks further Israeli violations while also highlighting Israel’s use of military fighter jets in the occupied West Bank.

The letter said that F-35 partner countries “have individually and collectively failed” to stop the jets from being used to commit serious violations of international law “despite overwhelming evidence”.

“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,” they wrote.

The letter was sent to government ministers in F-35 partner countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK where signatories have taken legal action to try to halt arms exports to Israel. 

Read more: Over 230 global NGOs say all F-35 exports to Israel are unlawful