British-Made F-35 Parts Tied to Al-Mawasi Massacre in Gaza’s ‘Safe Zone
Missiles, Manufactured in Part by Britain, Struck Civilians in an Israeli-Designated ‘Safe Zone,’ Killing Over 90 and Wounding Hundreds
United Kingdom, PUREWILAYAH.COM – A year ago today, the quiet beach area of Al-Mawasi in Gaza — designated by “Israel” as a humanitarian “safe zone” — became the site of one of the deadliest massacres of the war.
Israeli warplanes bombed tents sheltering displaced families who had gathered to receive food aid. More than 90 Palestinians were killed, and over 300 others, including women and children, were injured.
Now, survivors are not only grappling with trauma but are also pointing fingers at the international enablers of the violence — particularly the United Kingdom, whose manufactured components were used in the fighter jets that struck them.
A 'Safe Zone' Turned Killing Ground
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the July 14, 2024, attack on Al-Mawasi targeted tents filled with displaced civilians waiting for UN-distributed food packages. The airstrike left horrific scenes of bloodshed and chaos.
Majed Awad, displaced from Jabalia, recalled waiting in line when the strike hit:
“We were in line waiting for food for our children. Suddenly, the aid was covered in blood, and the queues turned into scattered bodies.”
Others echoed the disbelief. “They told us Al-Mawasi was a safe zone,” said Mohammed al-Maznar of western Gaza City. “But all we found there was death.”
British-Made Parts, Palestinian Blood
Anger intensified among survivors when they learned the F-35 fighter jets used in the bombing were partially manufactured in the UK.
Just weeks ago, a British judge ruled that the government could continue supplying spare parts for the jets, despite legal findings that “Israel is not committed to complying” with international humanitarian law.
Thuraya Moammar, a displaced woman from northern Gaza, recalled:
“When I found out that the plane that destroyed our tents and killed our neighbors was partially made in Britain, I felt like we’re not just dying from Israeli missiles – but also from court rulings made far away, by people who know nothing about our children.”
Buried Beneath Sand, Betrayed by the Law
Heba Nuweijeh, a law graduate from Rafah, was buried in the sand following the blast, struggling to breathe and signal rescuers. Her family lay unconscious, flung by the explosion. She later learned of Britain’s role in producing the aircraft that attacked them.
“How can Britain – the country that once taught us it was the mother of law – take part in the killing of my children?” she asked.
The Legal Loophole and Political Delay
Court documents revealed that just eleven days after the massacre, UK government lawyers advised Foreign Secretary David Lammy that “Israel” was not in compliance with international humanitarian law. Yet it took nearly six more weeks for the British government to impose any arms restrictions.
Even then, the ban included a major loophole: F-35 components could continue to be shipped to Israel via third countries — essentially rendering the restriction symbolic.
During this time, at least two shipments of fighter jet parts were sent from the UK to Israel.
‘How Can They Sleep at Night?’
“Israel” justified the strike by claiming it targeted senior Hamas commanders Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salameh. While Hamas later confirmed Deif’s martyrdom, no explanation was given for the high civilian toll. The United Nations condemned the bombing as “disproportionately deadly.”
For survivors, the trauma is inseparable from the sense of betrayal — not only by the military that bombed them, but by foreign governments whose policies, legal decisions, and factories enabled the violence.
“How can those who equip these wings of death sleep at night?” asked one survivor. “And how does a judge in Britain justify leaving us under the bombs?”
One year on, the names and stories of those who lived — and those who didn’t — still echo from the sands of Al-Mawasi, asking the world: Who will be held accountable? (PW)
Source: Al-Mayadeen