Dutch Court Rejects Bid to Halt Arms Sales to Israel

The Hague District Court ruled that existing checks on arms exports comply with international law, dismissing claims of genocide-related violations.

A coalition of ten pro-Palestinian groups argued that Dutch arms sales to Israel violate the 1948 Genocide Convention, citing civilian casualties in Gaza.
The court ruled that it is not within its jurisdiction to mandate changes to government policy, emphasizing that such decisions are primarily political.
The Dutch government defended its stance, stating that it evaluates the risks of arms exports to ensure compliance with international law and occasionally denies export requests.
Activists referenced a January International Court of Justice order and recent International Criminal Court warrants accusing Israeli leaders of crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The ruling comes as the United Nations reports severe humanitarian crises in Gaza, with tens of thousands lacking food, water, and medical aid for over two months.