JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: Palestinians file legal action against the Minister for Defence to force transparency over arms exports to Israel

Apr 13, 2026 | Media Releases, PalestineMonday 13 April 2026

Good luck with getting any honesty about this – Peter

Palestinian human rights organisations have launched legal action against the Minister for Defence, seeking the release of documents to determine if the Australian government has permitted arms exports to Israel during ongoing grave violations of international law in the unlawfully Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

On 8 April 2026, three leading human rights groups based in Palestine: Al-Haq; Al Mezan Center for Human Rights; and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, filed an application in the Federal Court to compel the Minister for Defence to produce documents relating to arms export permits to Israel. These include export permits that were granted before 7 October 2023 and remain active; and arms exports that are not directly supplied to Israel.

The arms exports may include components and materials that form part of global military supply chains. Australia is known to provide sole-source components, including F-35 fighter aircraft components and material used in armoured military vehicles. Israel’s ongoing military assault on Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the devastating impacts on the Palestinian people as a whole, is immense, severe and well-documented. They amount to grave crimes.

The groups seek the documents to determine whether the Minister has properly assessed the risk that the arms goods or technology being exported may be used to commit or facilitate serious human rights abuses, or may be used in a way contrary to Australia’s international obligations or commitments. If the documents show that the Minister has not properly assessed such risk, it may pave the way for a legal claim alleging that the Minister is in legal error and that exports must end.

This is the second time the organisations have turned to the Federal Court to obtain transparency over Australia’s arms export regime in relation to Israel, following earlier proceedings commenced in November 2023 which was subsequently discontinued.