The Netherlands will no longer be able to export parts of warplanes used by the Tel Aviv army for its F-35s to Israel. This decision was ruled by a Dutch court, which stated that there was “a clear risk that serious violations of humanitarian law will be committed in the Gaza Strip” by Israeli warplanes.
The decision given by the Hague Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the first instance court in December, which rejected the request of some organizations, including Oxfam, to ban the export of war materials to Israel. The conflict that broke out in Gaza after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
“Israel does not adequately take into account the consequences to the civilian population in carrying out its attacks,” the appellate judges wrote. These remarks appear to take into account the recent decision of the nearby International Court of Justice (UN), which has been pursuing genocide charges that South Africa has launched against Israel for months of raids hitting the Strip. So far they have caused over 28 thousand victims, mostly civilians and many children.
The Dutch government had opposed the requests from humanitarian organizations, arguing that there was no way to immediately determine whether the Israeli army was violating the laws of war in the Strip. If violations are confirmed, Dutch legislation expressly prohibits the export of weapons or components that can be used for military purposes. But there is no need for judges to be certain about the violations: “The fact remains that it is not currently possible to reach a definitive conclusion as to whether Israel has committed serious violations of international humanitarian law,” the Court writes – The only issue in this case is the use of F-35 parts exported to Israel whether there is a clear risk that it will be used to commit serious crimes against humanitarian law. open risk.”
Dutch companies have become a global reference point in the supply of components for the maintenance of the F-35, one of the most used (and lethal) US warplanes in the world. According to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, the country has millions of components ready for export. The government said it was reviewing the decision before making a decision. According to the Court of Appeal, exports must be blocked within 7 days from the penalty.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
