In a letter to the partner countries of the F-35 fighter jet programme (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK and the US), the organisations advocate that those countries should respect international law and do all they can not to further contribute to Israeli crimes against the Palestinian population. In December 2024, Amnesty International concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel has widely used F-35 fighter jets in its bombing of Palestinians in Gaza. For example, the F-35 was used in an attack in July 2024 with three 2,000-pound bombs on the so-called ‘safe zone’ Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, killing 90 Palestinians.
Despite all partners of the F-35 programme having legal obligations to stop arms exports to Israel, governments continue to allow the transfer of F-35 parts to Israel. Some countries have restricted direct deliveries to Israel, but continue to supply indirectly, for example through the US. This also applies to the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, several lawsuits have been filed by civil society organisations in countries that are partners in the F-35 programme, trying to hold their governments responsible for the transfer of F-35 jets and parts to Israel. These are Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK.
‘In line with the landmark The Hague court ruling that the Dutch government must cease all F-35-related deliveries to Israel, all countries must stop enabling Israeli atrocities against Palestinians,’ said Rolien Sasse, director of Dutch peace organisation PAX, which sent the letter to Dutch ministers Brekelmans (Defence), Klever (Foreign Trade) and Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs).
The 230-plus organisations, while welcoming the temporary ceasefire, say the past 15 months have demonstrated with devastating clarity Israel’s lack of commitment to complying with international law. It is therefore inadmissible for governments, including the Dutch, to continue supplying weapons that end up in Israel. They must make every effort not to be complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
