A Dutch appeals court ruled on Monday that the country should be blocked from exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel over concerns that they are being used in war crimes in the Israel-Hamas war. did.
The suspension is one of the strongest European reactions yet to Israel’s war efforts, and comes as the number of Palestinians killed in the conflict has exceeded 28,000 since October. It’s increasing. Israel denies war crimes.
The court sided with the humanitarian organizations that sued the government seeking an injunction, stating: “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.” ” he said.
“Israel has not adequately considered the impact on civilians when carrying out its attacks,” the court continued.
F-35 parts are owned by the U.S. government and stored in warehouses in the Netherlands. The court’s ruling will prohibit exports to Israel.
The Dutch government announced that it would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, arguing that the judicial system does not have the right to decide foreign policy.
“We are part of a large consortium of countries that are also working with Israel. We will discuss with our partners how to deal with this,” said Dutch Trade Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen. According to Reuters.
Israeli Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday and praised the appeal decision.
“I welcomed this judgment and reiterated that this court’s decision undermines the global and Israeli obligation to fight terrorism,” he said in a statement. Post to Xformerly Twitter.
The order comes as the International Court of Justice, headquartered in the Netherlands but not connected to the central government, considers a South African-led case alleging that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Served.
Following evacuation orders and airstrikes, Israeli forces are expected to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, the Gaza city on the southern border with Egypt, within days.
According to the United Nations, Israel’s ground operation in Gaza has leveled much of the country, forcing nearly all of the region’s 2.3 million people to flee their homes and forcing 90 percent of them to starve.
Rafah is considered the last “safe haven” for civilians in the Gaza Strip after months of forced evacuation from the rest of the region. World leaders urged the Israeli government not to enter the city.
Both the Egyptian and Saudi governments have warned that continued ground incursions could sever diplomatic ties with Israel and undo decades of U.S.-led operations in the region.
President Biden warned on Sunday that the Israeli government needs a “credible” plan to protect Palestinian civilians if it moves forward with the Rafah invasion.
Biden has stepped up his criticism of Israel in recent days, calling the military response in Gaza “overreach” at a press conference on Friday. In private, he was reportedly fed up with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to heed his advice during the conflict, repeatedly calling him a “bastard” and other epithets.
Biden administration officials have also criticized Israel more openly in recent private meetings with Democratic leaders, signaling growing tensions between Biden and Netanyahu, a longtime friend.
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