UK High Court rejects legal challenge to arms sales to Israel

The High Court of Justice in London rejected a petition filed by a group of legal advocacy groups calling for the suspension of British arms exports to Israel.

The group requested a judicial review in January as to whether the UK government was violating its own strategic licencing criteria, which states that weapons should not be sold to actors when there is a clear risk they could be used to violate international humanitarian law.

The court ruled against the suspension of arms sales, but lawyers for the coalition, led by Palestinian rights group Al-Haq, have said they will appeal the decision.