A Dutch appeals court has ordered the government to block the delivery of parts for F-35 fighter aircraft to Israel, citing concerns they are being used to violate international law. The court sided with human rights groups who argued that the parts, stored at a Dutch warehouse, contributed to law violations by Israel in Gaza.
“It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law,” the Appeals Court in The Hague said. “Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences for the civilian population when conducting its attacks,” the court added.
The Dutch government must comply with the order within seven days, but it may appeal to the Supreme Court. The case was brought by several groups, including the Dutch affiliate of Oxfam, in December, after the government decided to continue the export license despite Israel’s siege on Gaza.
A lower court had previously ruled that the export was primarily a political decision and that judges should not intervene, though it acknowledged that F-35s likely contributed to violations of the laws of war. The US-owned F-35 parts are stored in the Netherlands and shipped to other countries, including Israel.
In a separate case, the International Court of Justice last month ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 28,100 Palestinians have been killed in over four months, following the 7 October attacks by Hamas that killed about 1,200 people and took 253 hostages.
