20 March 2026

Amnesty International is urging governments worldwide to halt the supply of weapons to Israel, following a ruling by the Danish Supreme Court that a lawsuit brought by Amnesty International Denmark and three other organisations is inadmissible.

The lawsuit argued that the Danish government is violating international law by continuing to export weapons to Israel, including through the supply of F-35 fighter jet components.

"Today's decision is not only incomprehensible but puts civilian lives in danger. Denmark is violating international rules on arms export, and this should have been permitted to be established in the Danish courts," Vibe Klarup, Secretary General of Amnesty International Denmark, said.

"Denmark is violating international rules on arms export, and this should have been permitted to be established in the Danish courts."

Despite the Court's decision, international pressure must continue. Governments around the world risk breaching their obligations under international humanitarian law and the Arms Trade Treaty by continuing to allow arms transfers to Israel.

Australia plays a substantial role in the global supply chain of F-35 fighter jet components, aircraft that have been used by Israeli forces in airstrikes on designated safe zones in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. As one of a limited number of countries involved in manufacturing these components, Australia's continued participation raises serious concerns about complicity in war crimes, genocide, and other grave violations of international law.

To address this, a group of legal experts, endorsed by several civil society organisations, developed the Red Lines Package: a set of four bills for legislative change to ensure Australia is not complicit in genocide, war crimes, or illegal occupation.

Background

F-35 fighter jets have been used extensively by the Israeli military in Gaza, where Amnesty International has documented evidence of unlawful airstrikes amounting to war crimes and contributing to genocide. Despite this, a number of countries including Australia and Denmark, continue to supply F-35 components to Israel.

Under Article 6 of the Arms Trade Treaty, to which Australia is a State Party, governments are prohibited from authorising arms transfers where they know the weapons could be used to commit genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. Supplying weapons or components in such circumstances may give rise to legal liability for both States and corporations.

The Supreme Court's ruling upholds last year's ruling of the Danish High Court.

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