In April this year, the Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) filed an application in the Federal Court against the Minister for Defence seeking transparency in relation to Australian arms exports to Israel.
The hearing is listed for Friday 29th May 2026, 2.15pm at the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne.
ACIJ is representing three leading human rights organisations based in Palestine, namely Al Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights.
This legal action against Richard Marles MP, Minister for Defence, is 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 illegally Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially the Gaza Strip.
These documents include export permits that were granted before 7 October 2023 and remain active, as well as arms exports such as F-35 fighter aircraft components that are indirectly supplied to Israel via global military supply chains.
More specifcally, the documents are being sought to determine if the Minister has properly assessed the risk associated with the export of arms or arms components to Israel, namely the risk that they may be used to commit or facilitate serious human rights abuses, or may be used in a way that breaches Australia’s international obligations or commitments.
If indeed the documents show that the Minister has not properly assessed such risks, ACIJ indicated that it may well pave the way for a legal claim alleging that the Minister has committed a legal or jurisdictional error and that the exports must be stopped.
Rawan Arraf, Principal Lawyer at ACIJ, said:
Despite the serious legal and humanitarian implications of decisions made in relation to arms exports, the Australian arms export regime operates with minimal public scrutiny, and no meaningful visibility as to what exports have been approved by the Australian Government, and on what basis.
Further:
Assurances by the Minister and the Government over the last two years have led to public mistrust, frustration and anger. We cannot accept the Government’s “trust-us” attitude to something as grave as potential Australian complicity in genocide and other grave international crimes.
Australian civil society organisations have published a Statement In Support of the Palestinian Rights Groups’ Court Case for Transparency Over Arms Exports to Israel Statement.
Additional information
Australian Centre for International Justice, Palestinians file legal action against the Minister for Defence to force transparency over arms exports to Israel, Joint Media Release, Apr 13, 2026.
Annika Burgess, ‘Palestinian rights groups file legal action over Australia’s arms exports to Israel’, ABC News, Apr 14, 2026.
Sarah Basford Canales, ‘Palestinian groups launch legal bid to shed light on Australian arms export permits to Israel’, The Guardian, Apr 14, 2026.
Australian Centre for International Justice, Australian Arms Exports to Israel: Legal challenge over Australian Government’s arms exports to Israel, website accessed 26th May 2026.
Case record in Federal Law Search: https://www.comcourts.gov.au/file/Federal/P/VID335/2026/actions