A court in the Netherlands on Monday ordered the Dutch government to stop exporting parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, a move that reflected mounting alarm over the heavy civilian toll of Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip but was unlikely to have an immediate effect on the military campaign.

The Netherlands hosts a warehouse of US-owned F-35 parts that are exported to countries that operate the fighters. Oxfam and two other human rights organisations filed a lawsuit against the Dutch government in December, demanding that it halt the exports amid concerns over potential Israeli violations of international law in Gaza.

In an initial ruling in December, a court declined to issue the order, but on Monday a court of appeals in The Hague said it agreed with the rights groups. It gave the Dutch government seven days to stop exporting F-35 parts to Israel.

“The court finds that there is a clear risk that Israel’s F-35 fighter jets might be used in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law,” it said in a ruling.

The Dutch government said it would lodge an appeal with the country’s Supreme Court against the ruling, which came as Prime Minister Mark Rutte was visiting Israel. Israel’s defence ministry declined to comment.

More than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials there, since Israel launched a retaliatory war against Hamas after the armed group’s deadly October 7 attack. Rights organisations have increasingly called for countries to block weapons exports to Israel to protest how the country is carrying out its offensive.

Analysts said Monday’s ruling would have little impact on the Israeli military’s capabilities given that it has other weapons at its disposal, and because F-35 parts are available elsewhere.

“If one supplier isn’t able to deliver for any reason, the parts can be sourced from another,” said Gareth Jennings, aviation editor at the defence intelligence firm Janes.

For the moment, he added, the Dutch ruling seems to be “a symbolic act rather than one having any meaningful effect on Israel’s F-35 fleet”.

The F-35, made by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, is considered to be one of the most expensive weapons programmes in history. Each jet has a roughly $80 million to $100 million price tag; the aircraft are capable of avoiding enemy radar and use a highly advanced software system.

New York Times News Service