Dutch Court Upholds Weapons Deal Despite Genocide Concerns
A Dutch appeals court has dismissed calls to halt weapons exports to Israel, maintaining that the state has sufficient safeguards in place for export permits. This judicial rubber stamp allows military equipment—including F-35 fighter jet parts—to continue flowing, effectively greenlighting their use in Gaza where over 37,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children, have been killed by
Israeli forces since October 7, 2023. (Source: ABC News, OCHA, Gaza Ministry of Health) One might wonder at what point 'sufficient safeguards' become 'active complicity'? The court’s ruling conveniently ignores the International Court of Justice's provisional measures on January 26, 2024, urging Israel to prevent genocidal acts. Apparently, international law is a suggestion, not an obligation,
when arms deals are on the table. It seems 'never again' now comes with a robust exception clause for key allies.