12 Jun Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch Intervention in UK Arms Exports Licence JR

12 June 2024

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have jointly applied to the Administrative Court to intervene in a legal proceedings challenging the UK government’s approval of over 100 arms export licences to Israel since October 2023. The judicial review claim, brought by Palestinian NGO Al Haq against the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, is listed for a hearing at 10:30am on 13 June 2024 at the Royal Courts of Justice. Our client’s application to intervene will be considered at the hearing and a final hearing is expected to take place in October 2024.

Deighton Pierce Glynn act on behalf of both organisations whose intervention comes amid mounting concerns that UK arms sales may be contributing to human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Despite widespread criticism and calls for a halt in arms sales following devastating attacks in Gaza, the UK government has continued to authorize significant arms exports to Israel, raising serious legal questions.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have long histories of working to promote, protect, and monitor human rights, both in the UK and internationally. They have sought the court’s permission to intervene in the case to provide evidence illustrating Israel’s inconsistent approach in respecting and interpreting international humanitarian law.

Sue Willman, Senior Consultant at Deighton Pierce Glynn said:

The UK’s leading international human rights organisations have painstakingly assembled incontrovertible evidence in relation to Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law. We hope the court will agree that their expertise will assist it in reaching a just conclusion on this challenge to the UK’s continuing licencing of weapons exports for use in Gaza.

Amnesty International UK and Human Rights Watch are represented Sue Willman and Ahmed Ali of Deighton Pierce Glynn Solicitors. Counsel instructed are Jemima Stratford KC of Brick Court Chambers, Conor McCarthy of Monckton Chambers, Anthony Jones of 4 New Square Chambers and Hugh Whelan of Monckton Chambers.

For further information, please contact:

Deighton Pierce Glynn: aali@dpglaw.co.uk

Amnesty International Press Office: press@amnesty.org

Human Rights Watch Media Desk: press@hrw.org

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