A court in The Hague has announced that a partial court will consider a case against the Dutch government, brought by human rights organizations alleging that the export of parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel makes the Netherlands complicit in war crimes.
According to these organizations, including branches of Amnesty International and Oxfam in the Netherlands, “the Netherlands is contributing to widespread and serious violations of humanitarian law committed by Israel in Gaza” by allowing the shipment of spare parts for Israeli fighter jets amid the ongoing conflict.
Dutch Minister of Defense, Kajsa Ollongren, stated that she will not comment on the case until the court proceedings begin.
Earlier this month, the Dutch newspaper “NRC” reported, citing government sources, that the Netherlands had allowed the shipment of spare parts for Israeli F-35 fighter jets despite legal advisors warning that such aircraft are used in widespread airstrikes in Gaza, which could violate international law.
Several United Nations officials, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, have expressed concerns that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza could amount to war crimes, given the high number of civilian casualties.
Israel denies these allegations and states that “its forces adhere to international law during combat against Palestinian militants operating in densely populated civilian areas.”
