A group of pro-Palestinian activists has filed a lawsuit in the Netherlands, accusing the country of violating international law by continuing to supply arms to Israel. This legal challenge, submitted on Friday, follows the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes.
The lawsuit calls for a ban on the export of weapons and military components to Israel, as well as halting trade with the occupied Palestinian territories. The plaintiffs argue that by maintaining these trade relations, the Netherlands is complicit in alleged war crimes, referencing the recent ICC warrants and past rulings by the International Court of Justice that suggested Palestinians’ rights may be violated under current conditions.
In response, the Dutch government asserts that all foreign policy decisions, including arms sales, are made carefully and in line with international law. Government lawyer Reimer Veldhuis argued that it is not within the court’s role to intervene in matters of foreign policy.
Ahmed Abofoul, a legal adviser for one of the plaintiff groups, Al-Haq, expressed his personal distress in court, explaining that as a taxpayer in the Netherlands, he is being forced to fund actions that contribute to the suffering of his own family, many of whom have died in Gaza.
The ICC’s arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant accuse them of committing war crimes, such as using starvation as a weapon and targeting civilians, allegations which Israel denies.
While the Dutch government has committed to complying with the ICC, tensions are rising in the political sphere. Right-wing politician Geert Wilders has condemned the ICC’s actions and announced plans to visit Netanyahu in Israel, highlighting a growing divide within the coalition government.
The court is expected to deliver its decision on the lawsuit by December 13, which could have significant implications for the Netherlands’ foreign relations.
