Dutch human right groups take legal action against state to stop weapon export to Israel

Human rights groups in the Netherlands have taken the Dutch government to court, seeking to halt exports of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel.

As reported by the National, they argue that the Dutch state is violating its own ban on weapons exports when there is a risk of breaches of humanitarian law.

Michiel Servaes, President of Oxfam Novib, the Dutch affiliate of the international charity, spoke at the end of the first court hearing day in The Hague to the publication, saying that the case goes beyond the export of spare parts and emphasizes the need for governments to be held accountable for double standards.

Oxfam, supported by peace organization Pax and NGO The Rights Forum, contends that the state should suspend F-35 component exports to Israel due to the risk of violating international humanitarian law.

As the Israeli army has launched the second leg of their ground offensive, in the south of the Gaza Strip following a period of truce which saw the release of dozens of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, concerns have been raised by UN senior officials on the scale of civilian fatality and destruction. Top US officials have also expressed concerns about Israel's military tactics.

The Netherlands houses a regional warehouse for US-owned F-35 parts distributed to countries, including Israel.