A single warehouse in the Netherlands has become the focal point of a national legal crisis, putting the country’s role in supplying Israel’s war machine under the microscope. The Dutch Supreme Court is now deciding whether to uphold a ban on shipping U.S.-owned F-35 parts from this facility to Israel.
The Netherlands is home to one of only three regional distribution hubs for F-35 components, a key part of the global logistics network for the advanced fighter jet. This strategic importance has become a liability for the government, as human rights groups have used it as a lever to challenge the country’s foreign policy.
The lawsuit, initiated in late 2023, claims that this logistical support makes the Dutch state complicit in the alleged war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. The conflict has seen devastating casualties, with over 66,200 Palestinians killed, according to figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry that are widely cited by U.N. agencies.
The government finds itself in a dilemma. On one hand, it has obligations to the U.S. and other partners in the F-35 program. On the other, it faces a domestic court system that has already ruled against it. In February 2024, an appeals court imposed a ban on the shipments, citing the risk of violating international law.
The government’s appeal to the Supreme Court argues that the court is interfering in foreign policy and that a ban from the Dutch warehouse would not stop the flow of parts. The final ruling will be a critical test of whether a nation’s logistical role in a military supply chain can be legally severed due to human rights concerns.