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.
Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defense company, has secured a $130 million contract to supply advanced rocket munitions to an undisclosed European country.
Israeli citizens have protested outside the Knesset and Prime Minister’s residence against a controversial law that would alter the judicial appointment committee, a move critics warn could shift power within the judiciary and spark a constitutional crisis.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks, targeting Ben Gurion airport in Israel and U.S. warships in the Red Sea.
The US Attorney-General has directed prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for the 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealth Group CEO. In official statement, Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo labeled the Attorney General’s move as “barbaric.”
Myanmar’s military junta has rejected ceasefire proposals aimed at facilitating rescue efforts after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake. As the death toll climbs to 2,719, with 400 missing and over 4,000 injured, military operations continue despite calls from opposition groups to pause the conf
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed his testimony at the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday, continuing his defense in the high-profile corruption trial, where he faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
A recent report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has highlighted the critical role of irrigation in water management across Central Asia, where 79% of the region's water is allocated to agricultural use.
The Pentagon has ordered the deployment of more military assets to the Middle East, responding to escalating tensions with Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Tuesday that the move aims to bolster regional stability and enhance defense capabilities.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
The US Attorney-General has directed prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for the 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealth Group CEO. In official statement, Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo labeled the Attorney General’s move as “barbaric.”
Myanmar’s military junta has rejected ceasefire proposals aimed at facilitating rescue efforts after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake. As the death toll climbs to 2,719, with 400 missing and over 4,000 injured, military operations continue despite calls from opposition groups to pause the conf
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed his testimony at the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday, continuing his defense in the high-profile corruption trial, where he faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik at the Kremlin on Tuesday night. He arrived in Moscow after a court in Bosnia and Herzegovina issued an international arrest warrant for Dodik, the leader of the Serb half of the country.
Elon Musk has reclaimed his position as the world's richest individual, surpassing Bernard Arnault on Forbes' 39th Annual Billionaires list, while President Donald Trump has seen his wealth more than double, highlighting significant shifts in the global financial landscape.
The US Attorney-General has directed prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for the 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealth Group CEO. In official statement, Mangione’s lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo labeled the Attorney General’s move as “barbaric.”
Myanmar’s military junta has rejected ceasefire proposals aimed at facilitating rescue efforts after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake. As the death toll climbs to 2,719, with 400 missing and over 4,000 injured, military operations continue despite calls from opposition groups to pause the conf
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed his testimony at the Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday, continuing his defense in the high-profile corruption trial, where he faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
A recent report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has highlighted the critical role of irrigation in water management across Central Asia, where 79% of the region's water is allocated to agricultural use.
The Pentagon has ordered the deployment of more military assets to the Middle East, responding to escalating tensions with Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Tuesday that the move aims to bolster regional stability and enhance defense capabilities.
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