Human rights orgs suing Netherlands over arms sales to 'Israel'
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The Rights Forum, PAX, Oxfam Novib, and Amnesty International are presently putting the case together.
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Palestinians rescue a child from under the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on October 18, 2023. (AP)
According to a report by Oxfam Novib on Tuesday, a number of human rights and humanitarian organizations are suing the Dutch government over the country's policies toward "Israel". According to the groups, the Netherlands is partly responsible for the collective punishment and breach of the rules of war on the civilian population of Gaza, especially because it keeps sending weapons to the Israeli occupation.
The Rights Forum, PAX, Oxfam Novib, and Amnesty International are presently putting the case together and are accusing the Dutch government of not acting in compliance with its international commitments, constitutional duties, and policy frameworks.
Samen met @amnestynl, @PAXvoorvrede en @TheRightsForum klagen we de Nederlandse staat aan voor diens houding ten opzichte van de oorlog in Gaza, in het bijzonder door het voortzetten van wapenexporten naar Israël. Lees hier ons persbericht: https://t.co/gbCuk2nIBO pic.twitter.com/QfIRYECfj5
— Oxfam Novib (@oxfamnovib) November 14, 2023
The organizations say the Netherlands is refusing to publicly hold "Israel" accountable for “serious violations of the laws of war,” despite killing over 11,000 Palestinians.
The Netherlands is also being criticized for its ongoing export of F-35 warplanes.
According to Michiel Servaes, director of Oxfam Novib, "Israel's" bombardment of Gaza is making it "impossible" for aid to reach Gaza.
“It is almost unbelievable that these bombs are dropped with Dutch military support. This has to stop. It is an unprecedented step for us to go to court, but if necessary, there is unfortunately no other option,” he added.
The head of PAX, Martje van Nes, pointed out that the Netherlands has a unique system for evaluating arms exports, which forbids transfers of military equipment where it would violate international humanitarian law or human rights, adding that “it is incomprehensible that the government knowingly deviated from this, despite clear warnings. This makes them partly responsible for the use of the equipment."
Amnesty International head Dagmar Oudshoorn stated that the Netherlands seeks to portray itself as a "champion of international law" while it loses "all credibility" due to it being complicit in "violations of international humanitarian law" if it continues to transfer weapons to "Israel".
Meanwhile, a classified cable from the Dutch Embassy in "Tel Aviv" revealed that "Israel" is purposefully employing "disproportionate force" in Gaza and attacking "civilian infrastructure" in an attempt to contain its own casualties and demonstrate its "military force".
The document, which was written by the Dutch defense attaché stationed in the embassy and obtained by the Dutch news agency NRC, examines "Israel's" military tactics in Gaza.
