Human rights group launches appeal over Israel arms exports
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/human-rights-group-launches-appeal-over-israel-arms-exports
A F35 aircraft prepares to land at RAF Marham, NorfolkAPALESTINIAN human rights group announced today that it is appealing against a High Court ruling on Britain’s arms exports to Israel.
Al-Haq has been engaged in a long legal battle against the Department for Business and Trade, challenging the export of parts for lethal F-35 jets.
In July, the High Court rejected the challenge and ruled that it was for Parliament and not the court to decide whether the decision to continue the exports breached Britain’s international legal obligations.
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A hearing will now be held at the Court of Appeal on October 9.
Al-Haq director Shawan Jabarin said: “If the UK courts are unwilling to hold the government accountable for arming Israel during the deadliest phase of its genocide to date, who will?
“The court’s findings set a dangerous precedent and risk undermining the legal mechanisms designed to ensure government accountability.”
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Private Eye magazine has reported that Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems, is close to winning a £2 billion contract that would make it a “strategic partner” of the Ministry of Defence.
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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/human-rights-group-launches-appeal-over-israel-arms-exports
MBDA: Labour’s arms manufacturer knee-deep in Gazan blood
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/mbda-labours-arms-manufacturer-knee-deep-gazan-blood
Defence Secretary John Healey (third left) and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu (second left) view a long-range air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missile, during a visit to MDBA in Hertfordshire, July 9, 2025MBDA’s Alabama factory makes components for Boeing’s GBU-39 bombs used to kill civilians in Gaza. Its profits flow through Stevenage to Paris — and it is one of the British government’s favourite firms, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES
LAST MONTH, a Guardian report revealed that pan-European missile maker MBDA manufactures a key component for one of the bombs the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are raining on Gaza.
The report, based on a thorough joint work between the Guardian, French investigative group Disclose and Dutch journalism organisation called Follow The Money, showed how this top European weapons maker is deeply implicated in the widespread killing of civilians.
One extra point I want to add to their investigation is that MBDA is one of the British government’s favourite firms, with multiple links to Team Starmer. This shows how Labour’s close embrace of the arms industry compromises its stance on Gaza.
The July Guardian investigation showed MBDA makes the “wings” for Boeing’s GBU-39 bomb, which unfold after launch so the bomb can be guided to target. Since 2023 the US has actively promoted the IDF’s use of GBU-39’s, arguing this smaller 250-pound munition causes less “collateral damage” than bigger bombs. But by dropping many of these smaller bombs exported from the US, often on “soft” targets, the IDF have killed many civilians.
The distinctive GBU-39 “wings” are often found in the wreckage of these deadly attacks. The investigation pointed out that while this is a smaller bomb, it is very deadly when used against people as “in an enclosed space, it creates a lethal fireball.”
For example, a GBU-39 was used in the attack on the Fahmi al-Jarjawi school in Gaza City in May. This killed 36 people, half of them children, and is memorable because of much-watched footage of one of the children, five-year-old Hanin al-Wadie, stumbling around in the flames. Wadie survived, although with extremely serious burns.
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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/mbda-labours-arms-manufacturer-knee-deep-gazan-blood
Article continues with a discussion of Health Secretary Wes Streeting inviting US General Stanley McChrystal and a former 22 SAS Squadron Commander to give advice on NHS reform.
Israel intensifies Gaza City assault, forcing mass displacement of Palestinians
David Lammy held off the books meeting with pro-Israel lobbyist
https://www.declassifieduk.org/david-lammy-held-off-the-books-meeting-with-pro-israel-lobbyist
We asked Sir Trevor Chinn why he’s donated so much money to Labour, after he held an undisclosed meeting with Britain’s foreign secretary.
David Lammy held an off the record meeting with Sir Trevor Chinn, an influential businessman and one of Britain’s leading pro-Israel lobbyists, Declassified can reveal.
The meeting took place on 11 February 2025 but was not recorded in official transparency data published by the Foreign Office.
Lammy’s sole public appointment on that day was a meeting with the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator to discuss “humanitarian crises around the globe” including the situation in Gaza.
The Foreign Office only released details about Lammy’s meeting with Chinn in response to a Freedom of Information request issued by Declassified.
It said this was a “political meeting” and no minutes from the discussion were taken.
The Foreign Office also disclosed that Middle East minister Hamish Falconer met with Chinn on 18 March 2025 in another rendezvous that was not recorded in transparency data.
Lammy, Falconer and Chinn did not respond to questions about whether the meetings focussed on Israel.
Chinn said in 2013: “I’ve spent my entire life working for Israel”. Since the 1980s, he has funded Labour Friends of Israel and Conservative Friends of Israel.
He has played a leading role in Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM), previously described by the Guardian as “Britain’s most active pro-Israel lobbying organisation”.
Doorstepping Chinn
Declassified recently revealed that Chinn – now 90 – met with a top British diplomat to discuss arms exports to Israel despite the government initially claiming the purpose of the meeting was “to discuss geopolitics”.
Chinn did not respond to Declassified’s request for comment on that story. So when we saw him disembarking a taxi outside the Chatham House think-tank in London last month, we quickly asked him for an interview.
Chinn, gripping a copy of the Financial Times, declined our request.
“You’re a very generous benefactor to the Labour Party,” we said as he was ushered inside. “What do you think about the situation in Gaza at the moment? Why do you donate so much money to the Labour Party?”
He ignored our questions, which related to his £50,000 donation towards Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership campaign in 2020.
Chinn’s donation was not disclosed until after the election had taken place.
He has also donated to key members of Starmer’s cabinet including chancellor Rachel Reeves, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, health secretary Wes Streeting, education secretary Bridget Phillipson, culture secretary Lisa Nandy, and Lammy.
Chinn entered the building on the heels of Israeli opposition politician Yair Golan, who was in the capital for meetings with politicians, including Falconer, and local Zionist organisations.
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Article continues at https://www.declassifieduk.org/david-lammy-held-off-the-books-meeting-with-pro-israel-lobbyist