The Dutch justice system took an unprecedented step this Monday in the EU by prohibiting the Government from selling weapons to Israel, in this case spare parts for F-35 warplanes, at the request of a lawsuit filed by several NGOs. Coinciding with the visit to Israel and Palestine of the acting Prime Minister of Holland, the liberal Mark Rutte, the Court of Appeals gives the Executive a period of seven days to stop the exports of this material essential for the maintenance of the fighters.
In their ruling, the judges argued that "there is a clear risk that serious violations of humanitarian law will be committed in the war in Gaza with the F-35 fighter jets" and warned that Israel "does not sufficiently take into account the consequences of their attacks on the civilian population.”
The Government announced that it will apply the ruling but will appeal it. "The government respects the court's ruling and will implement it, but is of the opinion that the supply of parts for the American F-35 is not illegal," said a statement from the Foreign Ministry, which added that the appeal is "independent of the situation." in Gaza.”
The note makes it clear that the position of the Dutch Executive is “a temporary and immediate humanitarian ceasefire, and to provide as much humanitarian aid as possible to the population in need” but defends that the F-35 fighters are “essential” for Israel because these Aircraft “play a crucial role in its security” and that of the entire Middle East.
The Court of Appeals ruling disallows another lower-level ruling that ruled in favor of the Government and that was appealed by the Dutch NGOs behind the lawsuit to stop the sale of weapons to Israel, the result of a collective financing campaign led by Oxfam Novib. , PAX and The Rights Forum. These NGOs considered in the letter in which they requested the ban on fighter spare parts that "Israel's attacks have caused a disproportionate number of civilian victims, including thousands of children" and that "there is a clear risk of serious violations of the humanitarian law of the war".
