Judgment Court of Appeals The Hague: (re: Gaza) The Netherlands must stop exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel

Today, the Court of Appeals in The Hague pronounced its judgment in the (turbo)expediated appeal filed by Oxfam Novib, PAX for Peace the Netherlands and The Rights Forum (hereafter: Oxfam Novib et al) about ending F-35 weapons export to Israel by the Netherlands. The Court of Appeals agrees with Oxfam Novib et al, and has ordered the Netherlands to stop the further export of F-35 parts to Israel. 

The Court of Appeals finds that there is a clear risk that Israel uses the F-35 fighter planes in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law on the Gaza strip. 

"Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences of its attacks for the civilian population. Israel’s attacks on Gaza have resulted in a disproportionate number of civilian casualties, including thousands of children. The Netherlands is a party to several international regulations which stipulate that if a clear risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law exists, the Netherlands has the obligation to prevent the export of military equipment. This means that the export of F-35 parts from the Netherlands to Israel has to be stopped. By deciding that the export license for deliveries of F-35 parts to Israel should not be revoked, the Minister has failed to comply with this international obligation of the Netherlands. The court orders the State to stop the export of F-35 parts to Israel within 7 days." [source: Court of Appeals, English press release, 12 February 2024]

Oxfam Novib et al are represented in this case by lawyers Liesbeth Zegveld and Thomas van der Sommen.

See also: 

Previously

Share this message with

Do you have a question?

Read in our privacy statement how we handle your personal data.