Dutch Court Cites Lack of Evidence
The Hague, Netherlands — An urgent application to halt Germany’s military aid to Israel has been rejected by the District Court of The Hague. The court found that there was insufficient evidence to support the claim that the aid was contributing to human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The application was filed by a group of Dutch citizens and Palestinian NGOs. They argued that Germany’s sale of arms to Israel violated international law and should be suspended until an independent investigation into the use of those weapons could be conducted.
The court, however, ruled that there was no evidence to support the claim that Germany’s aid was being used to commit human rights violations. The court also noted that the German government had provided assurances that the weapons would only be used for defensive purposes.
The decision is a setback for the campaigners who have been calling for an end to arms sales to Israel. They argue that the weapons are being used to suppress the Palestinian people and that Germany bears responsibility for the human rights violations that are being committed.
The German government welcomed the decision and said that it would continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense. The Israeli government also welcomed the decision and said that it was a vindication of its position.
The decision is likely to fuel further debate about the legality of arms sales to Israel. The campaigners have vowed to continue their campaign and said that they would appeal the decision to the European Court of Justice.
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Kind regards E. Thompson.