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Palestinian NGO to Ask UK Court to Block F-35 Parts to Israel over Gaza War

Protesters demonstrate outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of a legal challenge brought by the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq over Britain's exports of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, amid its conflict with Hamas, in London, Britain, November 18, 2024. REUTERS/Sam Tobin
Protesters demonstrate outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of a legal challenge brought by the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq over Britain's exports of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, amid its conflict with Hamas, in London, Britain, November 18, 2024. REUTERS/Sam Tobin
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Palestinian NGO to Ask UK Court to Block F-35 Parts to Israel over Gaza War

Protesters demonstrate outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of a legal challenge brought by the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq over Britain's exports of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, amid its conflict with Hamas, in London, Britain, November 18, 2024. REUTERS/Sam Tobin
Protesters demonstrate outside the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of a legal challenge brought by the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq over Britain's exports of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, amid its conflict with Hamas, in London, Britain, November 18, 2024. REUTERS/Sam Tobin

Britain is allowing parts for F-35 fighter jets to be exported to Israel despite accepting they could be used in breach of international humanitarian law in Gaza, lawyers for a Palestinian rights group told a London court on Monday.

West Bank-based Al-Haq, which documents alleged rights violations by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, is taking legal action against Britain's Department for Business and Trade at London's High Court, Reuters reported.

Israel has been accused of violations of international humanitarian law in the Gaza war, with the UN Human Rights Office saying nearly 70% of fatalities it has verified were women and children, a report Israel rejected.

Israel says it takes care to avoid harming civilians and denies committing abuses and war crimes in the conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Al-Haq's case comes after Britain in September suspended 30 of 350 arms export licences, though it exempted the indirect export of F-35 parts, citing the impact on the global F-35 programme.

Al-Haq argues that decision was unlawful as there is a clear risk F-35s could be used in breach of international humanitarian law.

British government lawyers said in documents for Monday's hearing that ministers assessed Israel had committed possible breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) in relation to humanitarian access and the treatment of detainees.

Britain also "accepts that there is clear risk that F-35 components might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL", its lawyer James Eadie said.

Eadie added that Britain had nonetheless decided that F-35 components should still be exported, quoting from advice to defense minister John Healey that suspending F-35 parts "would have a profound impact on international peace and security".

A full hearing of Al-Haq's legal challenge is likely to be heard early in 2025.

The Gaza health ministry says more than 43,800 people have been confirmed killed since the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023.

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Arab World

Hamas Reports ‘More Serious’ Talks on Phase Two of Gaza Deal

A young girl walks through the site of an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah on December 9, 2025, which resulted in a Palestinian man being killed. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP)
A young girl walks through the site of an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah on December 9, 2025, which resulted in a Palestinian man being killed. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP)
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Hamas Reports ‘More Serious’ Talks on Phase Two of Gaza Deal

A young girl walks through the site of an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah on December 9, 2025, which resulted in a Palestinian man being killed. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP)
A young girl walks through the site of an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah on December 9, 2025, which resulted in a Palestinian man being killed. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB / AFP)

Hamas sources say negotiations over the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement have entered a “more serious” stage, amid intensified efforts by mediators and growing US pressure on Israel to advance the process.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas is awaiting confirmation from mediators on the start of the next round of indirect talks, expected once Washington and Tel Aviv finalize understandings. They anticipate discussions could begin late this month or early next month.

Recent days have seen multiple bilateral and trilateral meetings between Hamas leaders and mediators in Doha, Cairo, and Istanbul, alongside continuous communications. Additional sessions are being planned.

According to the sources, Israel now has “no valid justification” to delay the transition to phase two, despite the ongoing search for the remains of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza. Israel insists the body must be recovered before any progress, while mediators acknowledge the difficulty of the operation.

They noted that Egyptian engineering teams have helped retrieve all remains except one, whose recovery remains extremely challenging. Search efforts resumed this week in eastern Zaytoun neighborhood after coordination between Israel and the mediators.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions are preparing for a “comprehensive national meeting” in Cairo aimed at resolving core issues, including the governance of Gaza, administration of public services, and the future of factional weapons. Fatah representatives are expected to participate.

Sources say current discussions include clear proposals on the deployment and mandate of an international stabilization force, as well as the handling of armed factions’ weapons, “not through forced disarmament,” but via a Palestinian consensus backed by mediators. Hamas considers transferring Gaza’s administration to an agreed technocratic committee the “easiest” step and says it is ready to implement it immediately.

They also report growing convergence among Hamas, other factions, and Arab mediators on a formula allowing weapons to be held by a Palestinian authority under guarantees preventing their transfer to Israel or the United States. This would form part of a defined political process on the future of the Palestinian issue. Hamas has proposed a long-term truce of at least ten years, during which weapons use would be frozen under binding guarantees.

US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at month’s end to discuss Gaza and the transition to phase two. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has also held talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials on Gaza governance as part of preparations for a proposed “Peace Council” he is expected to help lead under the ceasefire framework.

 

 

Arab World

EU Looking at Options for Boosting Lebanon's Internal Security Forces

Lebanese army members stand on a military vehicle during a Lebanese army media tour, to review the army's operations in the southern Litani sector, in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo 
Lebanese army members stand on a military vehicle during a Lebanese army media tour, to review the army's operations in the southern Litani sector, in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo 
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EU Looking at Options for Boosting Lebanon's Internal Security Forces

Lebanese army members stand on a military vehicle during a Lebanese army media tour, to review the army's operations in the southern Litani sector, in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo 
Lebanese army members stand on a military vehicle during a Lebanese army media tour, to review the army's operations in the southern Litani sector, in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, November 28, 2025. REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo 

The European Union is studying options for strengthening Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF) to help free up the Lebanese army to focus on disarming the armed group Hezbollah, according to a document seen by Reuters on Monday.

A 2024 truce between Lebanon and Israel remains fragile, with Israel carrying out regular strikes on Lebanese territory that it says are targeting Hezbollah’s efforts to rearm.

The document, produced by the EU’s diplomatic arm and circulated to the 27 member states, said it would pursue consultations with Lebanese authorities and that a scoping mission would take place in early 2026 on possible new assistance for the country’s ISF.

EU efforts could “focus on advice, training and capacity-building,” the paper said, adding that the bloc would not take over the tasks of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate is set to expire at the end of 2026, when it is expected to begin a year-long drawdown and withdrawal.

Instead, the EU “could contribute to the gradual transfer of internal security tasks” from the Lebanese Armed Forces to the ISF, allowing the army to focus on its core defense tasks, the document said.

The UN secretary general is expected to produce a transition plan in June 2026 that will address risks stemming from UNIFIL’s departure.

The paper from the European External Action Service comes ahead of a planned meeting between senior EU and Lebanese officials in Brussels on December 15.

“Through a combination of advice, training and possibly the provision of certain equipment, the overall objective would be to enable the Police and the Gendarmerie to fulfil their mandates in cities and rural areas across the country,” it said, adding the EU could also help Lebanon to better secure its land border with Syria.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy on Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, was in Beirut on Monday to propose a roadmap that aims to assess independently Hezbollah’s disarmament, diplomatic sources told Reuters.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said last week that Lebanon wanted to see a ceasefire monitoring mechanism play a more robust role in verifying Israel's claims that Hezbollah is rearming as well as the work of the Lebanese army in dismantling the armed group's infrastructure.

Asked whether that meant Lebanon would accept US and French troops on the ground as part of a verification mechanism, Salam said, “of course.”

 

 

Arab World

Alimi to Ambassadors: STC’s Unilateral Actions Threaten Stability in Yemen

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba news agency)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba news agency)
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Alimi to Ambassadors: STC’s Unilateral Actions Threaten Stability in Yemen

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba news agency)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (Saba news agency)

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi said on Monday the Southern Transitional Council’s (STC) actions in eastern provinces in recent days undermine the legitimate government and the country’s security.

He met in Riyadh with ambassadors of countries that are sponsoring Yemen’s political process to brief them on the latest developments. Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Braik was also present at the meeting.

Saudi Arabia has maintained intense efforts to restore calm in wake of the developments. Alimi hailed Riyadh’s “responsible role in sponsoring” the efforts in the Hadhramaut province, including reaching an agreement that would secure oil facilities and prevent the eruption of open clashes.

He lamented that the efforts were being undermined by the STC’s unilateral actions that have stoked tensions and mistrust, reported official media.

The STC’s actions are a “flagrant violation of the references of the transitional phase and a direct threat to the unity of military decision-making,” he warned.

He told the ambassadors that the “partnership with the international community is not limited to provision of aid, but also a joint responsibility in protecting the idea of the state, supporting its legitimate institutions and preventing the establishment of parallel authorities.”

Alimi warned of the economic consequences and negative impact on livelihoods, especially in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra, in wake of the STC’s actions, which could also lead to a loss of trust by donors in the legitimate government.

He called for a “unified, clear and frank international stance that rejects the unilateral measures and underscores a full commitment to the transitional phase and supports the legitimate government as the sole executive authority that can protect Yemen’s higher interests.”

The country and people cannot withstand the reopening of new battlefronts, he warned. “The real battle remains focused on restoring state institutions and ending the coup by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militias,” he stressed.

The PLC and government remain committed to the state and people and regional and international partnerships, led by Saudi Arabia that has long come to the aid of the Yemeni people, he declared.