The Netherland court rejects demand to halt arms export to Israel – JURIST

The Hague District Court in the Netherlands rejected Friday a motion by ten Palestinian and Dutch NGOs to halt arms export to Israel.

The judge ruled that the State has room to assess whether its arms export policy violates its international law obligations. The court observed that applications for export have been rejected regularly, indicating that the government has complied with its international obligation not to violate international humanitarian law. Accordingly, the court found no reason to impose a general ban on the government to export arms.

The court also maintained the importance of differentiating between arms used to defend Israeli territory and those used to attack the Palestinian population. Citing Israel’s right to guard its territory, the court ruled that the government cannot be bound by a complete arms embargo.

In a joint press statement, the human rights groups shared that they would thoroughly review the court ruling and are considering appealing the decision. “The systemic violence and dehumanisation faced by Palestinians demand immediate and concrete action, not complacency or complicity,” the statement reads.

The decision comes after an investigation by Amnesty International, concluding Israel is committing genocide in Palestine. In its report, the organization stated that Israel’s acts have been done with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. The report said:

These acts include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm and deliberately inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. Month after month, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intent to physically destroy them.

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday adopted two resolutions, seeking an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as the release of all hostages. The resolutions also supported the UNRWA, the aid agency for Palestinian refugees, which Israel has enacted laws to prohibit from operating in areas under the country’s jurisdiction.