THE government has been forced to review its decision to export F-35 fighter jet components to Israel, legal groups announced today.

Global Legal Action Network (Glan) and Al-Haq wrote to the government last month, threatening to file an emergency injunction over its failure to revoke licences for all arms to the country as it continues its genocide in Gaza. 

Labour eventually moved to suspend just 30 out of 350 arms exports in September, but components for F-35s, which have dropped 2,000lb bombs on Gaza, were exempt.

In the High Court last month, the government admitted that there was a “clear risk” that the components could be used by Israel to violate international humanitarian law.

But it continued to export them anyway after Defence Secretary John Healey warned that it would disrupt the global supply programme they are part of and “undermine US confidence in the UK.”

Glan and Al-Haq said that they have now been notified that the government is reconsidering its decision. 

Glan lawyer Dearbhla Minogue said: “The position they took is, in our estimation, legally untenable and we hope they will finally do the only reasonable thing — stop the transfer of any British weapons for use by Israel against Palestinians.”

Today, MPs launched a new inquiry into the impact a lack of adherence to international humanitarian law is having on access to humanitarian aid. 

In November, aid deliveries to Gaza fell to the lowest levels since Israel escalated its attacks last October.

A committee will now explore what Britain is doing to protect aid workers and ensure countries adhere to international humanitarian law.

Karla McLaren, of Amnesty International UK, said: “We’d urge the committee to look closely at the situation in Gaza, where Israel’s stranglehold on aid deliveries, its lethal air strikes on aid workers, the wider civilian population and civilian infrastructure, and a truly chilling pattern of official commentary over cutting off supplies necessary to sustaining life for Palestinians, show clear genocidal intent from the Israeli authorities.”

She warned that if action is not taken to prevent Israel’s genocide and ensure Israeli officials are held to account, “respect for international law will be left in tatters and the situation for civilians in Gaza will only worsen.”

Palestinian Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal said: “It is abundantly clear that the systematic denial of aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is no accident. 

“The [International Criminal Court] is seeking the arrest of Israeli leaders for deliberately using starvation as a method of warfare against civilians. 

“It is welcome that MPs are looking into these horrific violations of international humanitarian law, but it is long past time for the government to stop selling arms to Israel and apply meaningful sanctions to pressure Israel to abide by international law and end its atrocities against Palestinians.”

Oxfam’s head of policy Helen Stawski said: “If the UK government wants to salvage its reputation for upholding international law, it cannot wait for the outcome of this inquiry. It needs to do much more now to bring pressure on Israel to stop its relentless onslaught and  allow full humanitarian access and aid into Gaza immediately.”