Dutch court rejects plea to cut F-35 parts deliveries to Israel forces
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Rights groups found that Dutch F-35 parts are making their way to the Israeli Air Force, via third parties, despite a ban on exports to the Israeli Air Force.
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An Israeli Air Force F-35 plane flies over occupied Palestine, on December 29, 2016. (AP)
Dutch judges rejected an urgent plea from three rights organizations on Friday to penalize the Netherlands for failing to comply with a ban on supplying F-35 fighter jet parts to the Israeli government.
Earlier in February, an appeals court issued a significant ruling directing the Netherlands to halt the delivery of parts for fighter jets used by Israeli occupation forces in their aggression on the Gaza Strip.
However, the rights groups returned to court in June, arguing that despite the ban, parts continued to find their way into Israeli F-35 fighter jets. They accused the Dutch government of continuing to export parts to other countries, including the United States.
The organizations sought an urgent court order from The Hague District Court to impose a daily fine of €50,000 on the state for disregarding the court's verdict.
F-35 parts make their way to Israeli Air Force through alternative routes
Their legal representatives pointed out that F-35 parts exported by the Netherlands were still reaching Israeli forces through alternative channels such as the "Global Spares Pool," which is a collective stock of spare parts maintained by several F-35-operating countries.
The Hague District Court acknowledged the concerns raised but emphasized that the February ruling did not explicitly cover the routes through which parts might reach Israeli F-35s via other countries.
"It has not been demonstrated that the State is not complying with the ban or does not intend to continue to comply with the ban," the judges said.
"Therefore, there is no penalty for a violation," the judges found.
Dutch government seeks decision appeal
In the February ruling, appeals judges had warned of a "clear risk" that the planes could be involved in activities violating international humanitarian law. Following the ruling, the Dutch government acknowledged challenges in preventing parts destined for the United States from ultimately being used in Israeli F-35s.
The government's legal representatives argued that the Netherlands was not obligated to restrict exports of F-35 parts to countries, with the exception of exports to the Israeli government.
While affirming its commitment to implementing the February verdict, the Dutch government announced its intention to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Read more: Netherlands F-35 parts supply to 'Israel' ongoing despite war crimes
