A Dutch court has decided not to stop the Netherlands from sending weapons to Israel. The court said the government has some freedom in its choices and that the courts should not get involved too quickly. The ruling means that there will be no total ban on selling military and dual-use goods to Israel.
Ten pro-Palestinian groups asked the court to halt the weapon exports, arguing that the Dutch government, as a signatory of the 1948 Genocide Convention, must act to prevent genocide. They pointed out the many civilians hurt during Israel’s actions in Gaza, claiming that Dutch weapons are being used in the conflict.
Wout Albers, a lawyer for the NGOs, stated that Israel is committing genocide and apartheid. He also mentioned an earlier order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asking Israel to stop acts of genocide in Gaza.
The NGOs were upset with the court’s decision. Shawan Jabarin, director of Al-Haq, called it a terrible injustice and blamed the Netherlands for ignoring important international laws designed to prevent issues like colonization and genocide.
This court ruling came just after an Israeli airstrike hit a residential area in Gaza, killing at least 40 Palestinians and injuring many others.
Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These warrants accuse them of committing serious crimes during the conflict, including using starvation as a weapon by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza and targeting civilians.
So far, Gaza’s health ministry reports that the fighting has led to the deaths of at least 44,805 people in Gaza since last October.
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