Overview
- The Hague Court of Appeal dismissed the NGOs’ case seeking a blanket ban on weapons sales, police dogs and trade with settlements, ruling courts cannot prescribe such measures.
- The panel acknowledged the Netherlands’ Genocide Convention obligations and noted a “grave risk” of genocide in Gaza but found plaintiffs had not shown routine licensing failures.
- The court said the government already uses case-by-case reviews and discourages business in occupied territory, and it ordered the organisations to pay legal costs.
- Plaintiffs had highlighted exports they say included radar systems, parts for F‑16s and warships, surveillance technology and trained dogs supplied to Israeli forces.
- The government says most arms exports to Israel are halted and only parts for defensive systems such as Iron Dome are allowed, and the Supreme Court recently required a reevaluation of a suspended F‑35 parts licence.