Dutch court clears export of F-35 parts to Israel
A Dutch court has dismissed a case brought by human rights organizations challenging the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel. The court in The Hague deemed the supply of parts a political decision outside its jurisdiction.
The decision, contested by groups including the local branch of Amnesty International, asserted that supplying these parts contributed to alleged violations of international law by Israel in its conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The court emphasized that such considerations fall within the realm of political and policy decisions that are not subject to judicial interference.
The F-35 parts, owned by the United States, are stored in the Netherlands and distributed to various partners, including Israel, through existing export agreements. The court’s ruling maintained that intervening in these deliveries might exceed the Dutch authorities’ power.
While human rights organizations argued that these parts enable real harm to civilians, the government countered that current information did not establish Israeli F-35 involvement in serious violations of humanitarian law. The court accepted the government’s position and ruled that it was not obligated to reassess the permit for F-35 parts transport granted in 2016 in light of the ongoing conflict.
In the third month of the conflict, launched in response to attacks by Hamas, the casualty figures remain disputed, with Israeli officials claiming about 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reporting over 18,700 casualties, predominantly women and children. International law experts suggest human rights violations on both sides, while the court concluded that the plaintiffs failed to sufficiently clarify the alleged unlawfulness of the government’s actions.
