A human rights group based in the West Bank failed Monday to secure a High Court ruling against Britain's support for Israel, in the wake of the recent Gaza conflict. Al-Haq had hoped to secure a judicial review of what it said was Britain's failure to fulfil its obligations under international law by denying Israel aid and assistance. It said Britain should suspend all financial, military and ministerial assistance to Israel and called for London to halt its arms export approval system so that British firms cannot sell arms to Israel. Al-Haq highlighted Israeli activities which allegedly breached international law including 'denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination (and) de facto acquisition of territory by force.' But judges Malcolm Pill and Ross Cranston said at London's High Court that the claim was 'beyond the competence' of a domestic court. 'While there may exceptionally be situations in which the court will intervene in foreign policy issues, this case is far from being one of them,' Pill said. 'The government is aware of its international obligations and it is for the government, and not the courts, to decide, in the present context, what actions are appropriate to comply with those obligations.' Al-Haq said on its website that while Israel's 'violations of international law' pre-dated the Gaza conflict in December and January, it was the 'distinct failure' of countries including Britain to uphold international law during the conflict which prompted legal action. James Eadie, the lawyer acting for British ministers, told an earlier hearing that Al-Haq wanted the court to 'trespass into forbidden territory' and was effectively trying to dictate foreign policy. He said the issue was the 'most sensitive, complex situation currently in existence', suggesting Al-Haq wanted to make the government denounce Israel's actions 'in whatever form the court thought appropriate'. Israel launched a 22-day offensive against Gaza in late December last year. More than 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed. 