Pro-Palestinian Groups Sue Dutch Government Over Arms Exports to Israel, Alleging Genocide
A coalition of Dutch and Palestinian pro-Palestinian organizations filed a lawsuit against the Dutch state on Friday, demanding a halt to arms exports to Israel and accusing the government of failing to prevent what they describe as a “genocide” in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.
The plaintiffs argue that the Netherlands, a close ally of Israel, has a legal obligation under international law, including the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, to actively prevent violations of human rights in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. “Today, the plaintiffs are here to hold the Dutch state accountable for failing to comply with international law by failing to intervene against violations of the rights of the Palestinian people committed by the state of Israel,” stated Wout Albers, the coalition’s lawyer, at the civil court hearing.
The coalition includes three Palestinian organizations and seeks a court order to ban the export and transit of weapons, weapon parts, and dual-use items to Israel, as well as a ban on all Dutch trade and investment that contributes to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. This request follows a previous attempt in October to secure such a ban.
The lawsuit comes days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated that the Netherlands respects the ICC’s independence.
The case’s success remains uncertain. The Supreme Court has previously dismissed similar attempts to hold the Netherlands accountable for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention. However, this lawsuit builds on a February court ruling that ordered the government to block exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel due to concerns about their use in violating international law.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a devastating toll: at least 44,056 Palestinians killed and 104,286 wounded since October 7, 2023. In Israel, the Hamas attacks on that day resulted in approximately 1,139 deaths and over 200 people taken captive.
