Court orders Netherlands to stop F-35 parts delivery to Israel
AFP – The Netherlands must stop delivering parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel in the Gaza Strip, after a Dutch court on February 12 upheld an appeal by human rights organisations.
The groups had argued that supplying the parts contributed to alleged violations of international law by Israel in its war with Hamas.
“The court orders the State to cease all actual export and transit of F-35 parts with final destination [in] Israel within seven days after service of this judgement,” said the ruling.
The US-owned F-35 parts are stored at a warehouse in the Netherlands and then shipped to several partners, including Israel, via existing export agreements.
“In doing so, the Netherlands is contributing to serious violations of humanitarian law of war in Gaza,” the rights groups argue.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague, which rules on disputes between states, has said Israel must do everything possible to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza.
That ruling “strengthens our confidence in a positive ruling in our case”, said PAX Netherlands, one of the rights groups involved in the appeal.