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.
Israeli jets conducted multiple airstrikes on former Syrian army barracks and outposts in the southern Daraa province on Monday, according to two Syrian security sources. The strikes are part of a broader pattern of assaults targeting Syria’s military infrastructure.
Negotiations for the continued release of hostages held in Gaza have stalled, with no progress reported in talks between Israel and Hamas. Sources indicate that if a deal is not reached within the next week, Israel may resume military actions in Gaza, potentially escalating the ongoing conflict.
Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on Sunday as a standoff over the truce that has halted fighting for the past six weeks escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.
Syria's interim president signed a temporary constitution on Thursday, establishing Islamist rule for a five-year transitional period, along with rights for women, freedom of expression and justice for Assad victims.
Turkey's foreign minister, defence minister and the head of the national intelligence agency are in Syria on a working visit.
Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China gathered in Beijing on Friday for discussions on Tehran's nuclear programme, following Iran's rejection of U.S. "orders" to resume talks over the issue.
A train collided with a minibus at an unauthorised crossing in northern Egypt, leaving eight dead and 12 injured. The crash occurred in Ismailia province, with victims, including children, taken to hospital. One child remains in critical condition.
Measles cases in the European region surged to a 25-year high in 2024, more than doubling from the previous year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF reported on Thursday, urging immediate action to restore vaccination levels that declined after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Italy’s League party urges the government to favour Starlink over French-led Eutelsat for satellite communication systems, citing Starlink's technological edge. The push comes amid delays in the EU’s IRIS² program, as Italy seeks secure communication solutions for officials.
XPeng Motors plans to mass-produce flying cars by 2026, becoming the first company globally to do so. CEO He Xiaopeng also highlighted advancements in autonomous driving and humanoid robotics as part of the company’s future tech initiatives.
World leaders welcomed the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to, calling it a step toward ending the conflict with Russia.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is set to condemn Trump’s Gaza “Riviera” plan, backing Egypt’s $53 billion reconstruction proposal. A classified draft resolution, rejects the relocation of Gazans, calls for urgent international support, and mobilises opposition to the U.S. stance.
In Tuesday’s closely watched parliamentary election, Greenland’s pro-business opposition Demokraatit party took a commanding lead after over 90% of the ballots were counted.
Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China gathered in Beijing on Friday for discussions on Tehran's nuclear programme, following Iran's rejection of U.S. "orders" to resume talks over the issue.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday he would be surprised if President Donald Trump supported the deployment of nuclear weapons further east into Europe, following Poland’s request to host U.S. nuclear arms as a deterrent against Russia.
The U.S. military is reviewing options to ensure American access to the Panama Canal, two officials told Reuters on Thursday, as President Donald Trump continues to push for greater U.S. control over the strategic waterway.
Sudan’s war has triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with millions facing famine and aid blocked by warring factions, U.N. officials warned.
President Donald Trump told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary for international security, escalating his campaign to annex the Arctic island.
Syria's interim president signed a temporary constitution on Thursday, establishing Islamist rule for a five-year transitional period, along with rights for women, freedom of expression and justice for Assad victims.
Turkey's foreign minister, defence minister and the head of the national intelligence agency are in Syria on a working visit.
Senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China gathered in Beijing on Friday for discussions on Tehran's nuclear programme, following Iran's rejection of U.S. "orders" to resume talks over the issue.
A train collided with a minibus at an unauthorised crossing in northern Egypt, leaving eight dead and 12 injured. The crash occurred in Ismailia province, with victims, including children, taken to hospital. One child remains in critical condition.
Measles cases in the European region surged to a 25-year high in 2024, more than doubling from the previous year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF reported on Thursday, urging immediate action to restore vaccination levels that declined after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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