Dutch NGOs sue government, demand severance of ties with Israel over Gaza

THE HAGUE

Ten non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Netherlands filed a lawsuit against the Dutch government on Friday, demanding the severance of relations with Israel.

The case, a joint effort by 10 organizations, including Palestinian and Jewish groups, was presented during the first hearing at The Hague District Court.

The NGOs criticized the government’s failure to prevent "genocide in Gaza" and ensure Israel’s compliance with international law.

They are calling for the suspension of all commercial and military ties with Israel, including a ban on arms exports.

Speaking to Anadolu, Ahmed Abofoul, legal advisor for Al-Haq, said: "We are asking the Dutch court to instruct the government to suspend all arms licenses to Israel and to cease contributing to Israel’s violations and crimes. We also demand the cessation of all commercial relations with illegal settlements."

Abofoul highlighted that the government had admitted in court that "Israel's occupation and presence in Gaza are illegal," questioning why the government continues to support this illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"We are witnessing a campaign of destruction, particularly in northern Gaza. The entire Gaza Strip faces famine, with starvation being used as a weapon of war. As winter approaches, people are living under dire conditions," said Abofoul.

"In the West Bank, we presented evidence of Israel expanding colonial settlements, continuing attacks on Palestinians, arming illegal settlers, and granting them impunity. We hope the court will instruct the government to end its contributions to these violations of international humanitarian law and cease supporting the illegal occupation," he added.

Wout Albers, the lawyer representing the coalition, noted that the confirmed death toll in Gaza since Oct. 2023 has exceeded 44,000, while unofficial estimates suggest over 200,000 deaths due to injuries, diseases, and lack of basic necessities.

Albers argued that the Dutch government has not made sufficient efforts to address the serious violations of international law while maintaining political, economic, and military ties with Israel.

Dutch government’s defense

The Dutch government’s lawyers argued that export licenses to Israel are continuously monitored, considering the potential military use of exported products.

They also claimed that military cooperation with Israel benefits the Dutch armed forces and is a matter of foreign policy.

The government’s defense team asserted that imposing an indefinite and undefined trade ban on Israeli firms could jeopardize Dutch national security.

They also argued that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove how the Netherlands directly contributes to Israel's alleged crimes and requested the dismissal of the case.

The coalition of plaintiff organizations includes Al-Haq, Al-Mezan, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Dutch organization Een Ander Joods Geluid (EAJG), the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), and SOMO.