(Al Jazeera Media Network) A Dutch appeals court has dismissed an attempt by human rights organisations to stop the Netherlands from selling weapons to Israel.
Ten pro-Palestinian NGOs had filed a lawsuit accusing the Dutch state of doing too little to prevent what they described as “genocide” in Gaza with a “clearly unlawful” foreign policy toward Israel.
They urged judges to impose a blanket ban on weapons exports to Israel, a ban on exporting military dogs, and a ban on trading in the occupied territory.
A Dutch court rejected their case last year, saying the state has some leeway to decide its policies and courts should not rush to step in.
The NGOs had cited a January 2024 order to Israel by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. The UN’s top court said it was plausible that Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention.
On Thursday, the Hague Court of Appeal dismissed the groups’ appeal, saying that, although “there is a serious risk that Israel will commit genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza,” the Dutch government has “considerable discretion” to determine foreign policy and issues of national security.
In a written ruling, the court said it could not order a blanket ban because the plaintiffs had not shown the government was routinely failing to consider whether exported arms or dual-use goods would be used to violate rights.
The court also ordered the organisations to pay legal costs.
“While it is plausible that there is a risk of genocide and serious human rights violations, it is not, in principle, up to the court to prescribe to the State what measures must be taken to prevent this,” said the court in a statement.