A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid by 10 pro-Palestinian NGOs to stop the Netherlands exporting weapons to Israel and trading with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
The Hague district court stressed that the state has some leeway in its policies and courts should not rush to step in.
"The interim relief court finds that there is no reason to impose a total ban on the export of military and dual-use goods on the state," it said in a statement.
The plaintiffs, citing high civilian casualties in Israel's war in the Gaza Strip, had argued that the Dutch state, as a signatory to the 1948 Genocide Convention, has a duty to take all reasonable measures at its disposal to prevent genocide.
The NGOs cited a January order to Israel by the International Court of Justice to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.
Israel says accusations of genocide in its Gaza campaign are baseless and that it is solely hunting down Hamas and other armed groups who threaten its existence and hide among civilians, something the groups deny.
The judges at the Hague district court sided with the Dutch state, which had said it continually assesses the risk of arms and dual-use goods exported to Israel being used in a way that could lead to violations of international law, and that it occasionally refuses certain exports.
In a ruling in a separate case in February, a Dutch court ordered the government to block all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel over concerns they were being used to violate international law during the war in Gaza. The government has appealed that ruling.
Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv, calling for an end to the Gaza war and pressing for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Protesters and police clashed in the Israeli town of Mazor as crowds rallied against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s reluctance to support military action, Israel has not ruled out launching a limited strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to Israeli and other sources familiar with the matter.
Hamas has proposed a deal to exchange all hostages for a set number of Palestinians jailed by Israel, rejecting an interim truce and calling for broader negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 27th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A driver has been arrested after ramming into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, leaving several people dead and injured.
France’s prime minister has vowed action after a Muslim worshipper was fatally stabbed in a mosque in what authorities are investigating as a possible Islamophobic crime.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 18 dead and over 700 injured, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
The Kremlin says President Putin confirmed readiness for direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 27th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A driver has been arrested after ramming into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, leaving several people dead and injured.
France’s prime minister has vowed action after a Muslim worshipper was fatally stabbed in a mosque in what authorities are investigating as a possible Islamophobic crime.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 18 dead and over 700 injured, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
The Kremlin says President Putin confirmed readiness for direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 27th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A driver has been arrested after ramming into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, leaving several people dead and injured.
France’s prime minister has vowed action after a Muslim worshipper was fatally stabbed in a mosque in what authorities are investigating as a possible Islamophobic crime.
A deadly explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port has left at least 18 dead and over 700 injured, halting operations at one of the country’s most vital trade hubs.
The Kremlin says President Putin confirmed readiness for direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
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