Dutch Court Orders Netherlands to Stop Delivery of F-35 Parts to Israel
“It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law," the court said in its ruling
Mandi Kogosowski
| 12/02/2024
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
A Dutch appeals court ordered the government to block all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel within seven days, citing concerns of inappropriate usage by Israel during its ongoing war with Hamas. According to the court, “It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law," the court said.
The case against the Netherlands was brought before the court in November 2023 by several human rights organizations, including the Dutch branches of Amnesty International and Oxfam. The appeal was submitted after a local court rejected the petition.
The exact repercussions of this decision, which also involves the US, are unclear at the moment. The three main players – the Israeli government, the American administration, and F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin – have yet to comment.
Furthermore, according to Yahoo!, Dutch authorities had said it was not clear whether they even had the power to intervene in the deliveries – part of a US-run operation that supplies parts to all F-35 partners. Government lawyers also argued that Israel could easily procure the parts it requires elsewhere.
“It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law," the court said in its ruling
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
A Dutch appeals court ordered the government to block all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel within seven days, citing concerns of inappropriate usage by Israel during its ongoing war with Hamas. According to the court, “It is undeniable that there is a clear risk the exported F-35 parts are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law," the court said.
The case against the Netherlands was brought before the court in November 2023 by several human rights organizations, including the Dutch branches of Amnesty International and Oxfam. The appeal was submitted after a local court rejected the petition.
The exact repercussions of this decision, which also involves the US, are unclear at the moment. The three main players – the Israeli government, the American administration, and F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin – have yet to comment.
Furthermore, according to Yahoo!, Dutch authorities had said it was not clear whether they even had the power to intervene in the deliveries – part of a US-run operation that supplies parts to all F-35 partners. Government lawyers also argued that Israel could easily procure the parts it requires elsewhere.
