The Netherlands has seven days to stop any further export of F-35 parts to Israel, The Hague Court of Appeal rule today.
“It is undeniable that there is a clear risk that the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law,” the court said, adding”“the Netherlands must prohibit the export of military goods if there is a clear risk of serious violations of the humanitarian law of war”.
The court’s verdict was in favour of 3 humanitarian organisations Oxfam Novib, PAX and The Rights Forum, who took the state to court for supporting the violation of international law, last year.
In 2016 The Netherlands was granted a permit to distribute parts for the F-35 combat aircraft to numerous countries, including Israel. Exports to Israel were put into question last year in light of Israel’s ongoing attacks in the Gaza Strip, following the kidnapping and killing of many civilians by Hamas on October 7th.
The verdict on the appeal comes almost 2 months after the then Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher, determined to not intervene in the permit and allow the continuation of the export.
Geoffrey van Leeuwen, Outgoing Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, is currently studying the ruling, according to the public broadcaster NOS.
