- Israel refutes war crimes
- Dutch court halts exports
- Appeals court challenges decision
The government has been ordered by a Dutch court to cease the shipment of components for F-35 fighter aircraft that were utilised by Israel during its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, an appeals court rendered a verdict stating that there is a “glaring risk” that the components exported by the Netherlands are being utilised in “grave violations of international humanitarian law.”
According to the court, it is probable that Israel employed F-35s in its assaults on Gaza, resulting in lamentable civilian casualties. It rejected the Dutch government’s claim that it was not required to conduct a fresh inspection of the export permit.
Nevertheless, the Dutch government declared its intention to contest the order before the Supreme Court on Monday, citing the critical nature of the weapon components for Israel’s defence against regional threats such as those posed by Iran, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.
The decision was rendered in response to an appeal lodged by Amnesty International and Oxfam against a lower court ruling from the previous year, which dismissed their contention that the provision of the components allegedly “contributed to Israel’s serious and widespread violations of humanitarian law in Gaza.”
By continuing to deliver, human rights organisations have accused the government of complicity in war crimes.
The court dismissed the case in December. It stated that the government’s flexibility in evaluating political and policy concerns regarding arms exports was substantial.
The appeals court ruled that political and economic concerns did not exceed the risk of war crimes.
Court Halts F-35 Component Exports
However, the court of appeals ordered the government to stop exporting fighter aircraft parts to Israel for seven days.
“There is an indisputable possibility that the exported F-35 components are utilised in grave transgressions of international humanitarian law,” Judge Bas Boele stated in the decision, to the applause of a number of the audience.
Israel has consistently refuted accusations that its military operation in the enclave constitutes war crimes. However, the International Court of Justice warned Israel about genocide in the enclave in January.
The Gaza Strip Ministry of Health reported on Monday that a minimum of 28,340 individuals have lost their lives in the besieged territory over the course of the conflict, with 164 deaths occurring within the last twenty-four hours.
Since the initiation of hostilities on October 7, Hamas has caused the injuries of 67,984 individuals. Including approximately 240 captured, in addition to the approximately 1,100 fatalities.
The Dutch government stated a year ago that its authority to intervene in the deliveries was uncertain.
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One of multiple regional facilities is located in the Netherlands. From this facility, aircraft components manufactured in the United States are dispatched to countries upon request. At least one cargo has been supplied to Israel by the Dutch facility since the onset of the conflict.
Additionally, government attorneys argued that Israel could readily acquire F-35 components elsewhere. This would be the case if the Dutch facility failed to provide them.
The government’s export cessation order from the court may be subject to an appeal by the Dutch authorities.
