Amid escalating tensions over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, several European countries have decided to halt arms exports to Israel. This move comes in response to growing concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and allegations of severe violations of international law by Israel.
A Dutch court ruled on Monday that the Dutch government must stop exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a “clear risk” that these parts were being used to commit violations of international law in Gaza. The court’s decision came after three human rights groups, including Oxfam, brought a case seeking to overturn a previous decision allowing the exports to continue. The court ordered the government to halt the exports within seven days.
This ruling follows recent announcements from Italy and Spain that they have suspended arms sales to Israel since the conflict in Gaza began more than four months ago. A regional government in Belgium also announced that it had suspended licenses for gunpowder exports to Israel.
The concern over continuing arms exports to Israel has been fueled by the International Court of Justice’s recent order for Israel to comply with international laws on genocide. While Israel has rejected these allegations, the court’s ruling has increased pressure on Israel’s allies to reevaluate their support.
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In response to mounting concerns, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, suggested that the United States should also reconsider its arms supplies to Israel. Borrell argued that reducing arms supplies could help lower the death toll in Gaza, where more than 28,000 Palestinians were killed last October.
Meanwhile, the United States Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package on Tuesday, which includes $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel. The package also provides aid for civilians in Gaza and additional support for Ukraine.
However, President Joe Biden has expressed growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, describing Israel’s campaign as “over the top.”
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The Dutch court’s ruling to halt arms exports to Israel raises questions about the impact it will have on Israel’s military capabilities. Israel heavily relies on the F-35 fighter jet, which is considered its “flagship asset.”
However, experts believe that even if Israel were to stop using F-35s, it would have a minimal effect on its ability to conduct military strikes in Gaza.
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In addition to the Netherlands, Italy and Spain have also suspended arms sales to Israel, although questions have been raised about the effectiveness of these measures. Despite claims of embargoes, reports have emerged of arms exports from these countries to Israel, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability.
As the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, the international community faces mounting pressure to take decisive action to address the humanitarian crisis and hold those responsible for violations of international law accountable.
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