While acknowledging that the parts could be used in breach of international humanitarian law […], London's High Court found that the “acutely sensitive and political issue is a matter for the executive which is democratically accountable to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate, not for the courts”.

It also concluded that the UK could not unilaterally halt the supply of UK-made parts due to the “extraordinarily serious impacts for the UK and international peace and security”, which could incur from its withdrawal from the F-35 programme.

In October, Al-Haq asked the court of appeal for permission to apply for judicial review of the ruling, but the court refused.

Judges said that it is for the UK government to decide whether national security issues related to its supply of the components outweigh an assessment by the foreign secretary of state that Israel was not committed to complying with international humanitarian law.

On 2 September 2024, the Labour government suspended around 30 export licences for UK-made arms after the foreign secretary's assessment.

While the licensing of UK-made F-35 components exported directly to Israel was suspended, a loophole was created for parts sent to a global pool which Israel can use on its existing F-35 jets. This became known as the “F-35 carve out”.

F-35 components supplied by the UK make up 15 percent of every F-35, one of the world's most sophisticated fighter jets, which Israel has used extensively in its campaign in Gaza, as well as in Lebanon and Iran.