Dutch Court Rejects Petition to Halt Arms Exports to Israel

A Dutch court has rejected a lawsuit from ten pro-Palestinian NGOs urging the government to halt arms exports to Israel, asserting that current checks are adequate under international law. The court emphasized that the state retains autonomy over foreign policy and dismissed claims that the Netherlands was violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by continuing military sales amidst ongoing violence in Gaza. Activists cited significant civilian casualties, including a recent Israeli airstrike that killed at least 25 Palestinians, as evidence of potential genocide. The court reiterated that it is not its role to dictate government policy and that the state is responsible for evaluating arms exports on a case-by-case basis. While the NGOs aimed for a comprehensive ban on military exports, the court found the government's existing measures, including discouragement policies, sufficient to prevent complicity in human rights violations. This ruling comes amid continuing debates about the Netherlands' military support for Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.