Pro-Palestinian NGOs Seek Dutch Court Order to Halt Arms Exports to Israel

THE HAGUE, Nov 22 – Ten pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) filed a request with a Dutch court on Friday to stop the Netherlands from exporting weapons to Israel and engaging in trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. The NGOs argue that the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in high civilian casualties, makes the arms exports and trade violations of international law.

The plaintiffs contend that, as a signatory to the 1948 Genocide Convention, the Dutch government has a legal obligation to take all reasonable measures to prevent acts of genocide, including halting the export of arms to Israel amidst the ongoing violence in Gaza.