A Dutch court ordered the government in The Hague this Monday to suspend the sale of spare parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, citing the risk of violating international law.
“It cannot be denied that there is a clear risk that exported F-35 parts will be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law,” Judge Bas Boele said as he read out the decision, drawing applause from several people in the hearing room.
Last December, three human rights organizations filed a civil lawsuit against the Netherlands, arguing that authorities should reconsider the export license, citing Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip.
Non-governmental organizations say supplying fighter jet parts makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes committed by Israel in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In January, a lower court ruled in favor of the government, allowing it to continue sending American-made parts stored in the city of Woinsdrecht to Israel.
This Monday, judges at the Hague Court of Appeal overturned the decision and ordered the government to stop exports within seven days.
The decision can be appealed.
Government lawyers said a ban on the export of F-35 parts found in the Netherlands would not make sense because the US could source components from other countries.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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