Dutch court orders govt to stop exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel
Dutch government on Monday to halt the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violations of international law.
A trio of human rights organizations brought a civil suit against the Netherlands in December, arguing authorities needed to reevaluate the export license in light of Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip. «It is undeniable that there is a clear risk that the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law,» Judge Bas Boele said in reading out the ruling, eliciting cheers from several people in the courtroom.
The exports must cease within seven days.
The decision came as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the conflict. Rutte was also expected to separately meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
«We are extremely grateful that there is justice and that the court was willing to speak out on justice,» lead lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld told reporters after the hearing.
Oxfam Novib, Pax Nederland and The Rights Forum filed the case war with Hamas.
In January, a lower court sided with the government, allowing the Dutch to continue sending US-owned parts stored at a warehouse in Woensdrecht to Israel.
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
