Human rights lawyers went to court in the Netherlands on Monday to call for a halt to the export of fighter jet parts to Israel that could be used in attacks on Gaza. The organizations allege that delivery of parts for F-35 jets makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes being committed by Israel in its war with Hamas. The civil case in The Hague opened as the Israeli military renewed calls for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip. The rights lawyers want The Hague District Court to issue an injunction banning the exports of F-35 parts that are stored in a warehouse in the town of Woensdrecht. “The state must immediately stop the delivery of F-35 parts to Israel,” lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld told the court.
Quick Read
- Human Rights Lawyers’ Court Case: Lawyers in the Netherlands have filed a case to halt the export of parts for F-35 jets to Israel. They argue that these exports make the Netherlands complicit in potential war crimes by Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
- Call for Injunction: The lawyers are seeking an injunction from The Hague District Court to ban the export of F-35 parts stored in Woensdrecht, arguing that the fighter jets could contribute to serious breaches of the laws of war.
- Dutch Government’s Position: Government lawyer Reimer Veldhuis argued against the injunction, stating that if the Netherlands stopped the exports, the U.S. would supply the parts to Israel from another location. He emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense within international law limits and claimed that a clear risk of serious breaches of international law through the use of F-35s cannot be established at the moment.
- Context of the Legal Action: The case coincides with the Israeli military’s intensified operations in Gaza, including the recent mass evacuation calls in Khan Younis and bombardments across the Gaza Strip.
- Upcoming Ruling: A decision on the injunction is expected within two weeks and can be appealed.
The Associated Press has the story:
Dutch lawyers seek a civil court order to halt export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel
Newslooks- THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)
Human rights lawyers went to court in the Netherlands on Monday to call for a halt to the export of fighter jet parts to Israel that could be used in attacks on Gaza.
The organizations allege that delivery of parts for F-35 jets makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes being committed by Israel in its war with Hamas.
The civil case in The Hague opened as the Israeli military renewed calls for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.
The rights lawyers want The Hague District Court to issue an injunction banning the exports of F-35 parts that are stored in a warehouse in the town of Woensdrecht.
Citing government documents, Zegveld said that Dutch customs asked the government if it wanted to continue exports after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that triggered the Israel-Hamas war.
“The warning that the fighter jets can contribute to serious breaches of the laws of war does not, for the (Dutch) state, outweigh its economic interests and diplomatic reputation.”
Government lawyer Reimer Veldhuis urged the court’s single judge to reject the injunction, saying that even if it were to uphold the rights lawyers’ legal arguments and ban exports, “the United States would deliver these parts to Israel from another place.”
He added that Israel has the right to self-defense.
“Israel must be able to respond to threats from the region. That must, of course, happen within the framework of international law,” Veldhuis said.
He added that the government “believes that a clear risk of serious breaches (of international law) through the use of F-35s cannot at the moment be established.”
A ruling is expected within two weeks and can be appealed.
