COPENHAGEN, Denmark: A Dutch court is on the brink of deciding whether the Dutch government should discontinue the supply of F-35 fighter jet parts employed by Israel in the ongoing conflict over Gaza.
Human rights organizations, including Oxfam Novib, have taken legal action, contending that the provision of these parts directly contributes to Israel’s alleged violations of international law in its confrontations with Hamas.
The focal point of the case revolves around US-owned F-35 parts stored in a warehouse in the Netherlands. These components are subsequently shipped to various partners, with Israel among the recipients, under established export agreements. The plaintiffs argue that these specific parts play a critical role in enabling real-time bombing campaigns on civilian structures, resulting in tangible devastation.
Michiel Servaes, the director of Oxfam Novib, asserted that these parts facilitate the dropping of “real bombs on real houses and on real families,” emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The Dutch government’s stance, as articulated in a letter to parliament, contests whether they possess the authority to intervene in the deliveries. According to Dutch authorities, the current information on the deployment of Israeli F-35s does not conclusively establish their involvement in serious violations of humanitarian laws of war.
Human rights lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld, representing the plaintiffs, dismissed this contention, labeling it as “nonsense.” Zegveld highlighted the Dutch government’s awareness of the extensive destruction in Gaza, citing the government’s export rules, which mandate the refusal of licenses if there is a “clear risk” that the goods will be used in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law.
This legal battle underscores the complexities surrounding the indirect involvement of nations in conflicts and the ethical considerations tied to the supply chain in military operations.
