The F-35 Pipeline to Israel: Dutch Court to Make Final Call on Controversial Exports

The Netherlands’ Supreme Court holds the final say on whether a critical pipeline of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel will be shut down. The government is appealing a court-ordered halt to the shipments, which was enacted over concerns about their use in the Gaza war.
This legal battle began when three human rights organizations took the Dutch state to court. Their lawsuit argued that by allowing the U.S.-owned parts to transit through its territory, the Netherlands was aiding military actions that could amount to war crimes.
After an initial setback, the rights groups secured a major victory at an appeals court in February 2024. The court imposed a ban, finding a “clear risk” that the parts contribute to serious violations of international law. This ruling prompted the government to seek a final judgment from the Supreme Court, arguing the decision has severe foreign policy implications.
The government’s position is that it is caught in the middle. The parts belong to the U.S., and the Netherlands is merely a host for a regional warehouse. Blocking the shipments, it argues, would antagonize an ally and be ineffective, as the parts would be sent anyway. This pragmatic argument is pitted against the court’s focus on legal and moral obligations.
The court’s deliberation is shadowed by the high casualty figures from the Gaza conflict, which erupted after the October 7 Hamas attack. The war has intensified scrutiny of Western military support for Israel, with several European nations now facing legal and political pressure to suspend arms transfers.