Netherlands’ F-35 Ban Appeal Puts Alliances with US, Israel Under Scrutiny

A legal battle in the Netherlands over F-35 parts for Israel has escalated to the nation’s highest court, placing intense scrutiny on the country’s foreign policy and its alliances with the United States and Israel. The Dutch government is fighting to overturn a ban on the shipments, arguing the judiciary is overstepping into the realm of international diplomacy.
The core of the government’s appeal is that foreign relations, including military exports, are a political matter to be decided by elected officials, not judges. Furthermore, government lawyers have argued that halting exports from the Dutch F-35 warehouse would be a futile gesture. They claim the United States, which owns the parts and manages the global supply chain, would simply deliver them to Israel through other channels.
This case highlights the delicate balancing act for the Netherlands, a key NATO ally and host to one of the three regional F-35 parts distribution centers. A definitive ban could create friction with the U.S. and Israel, while allowing shipments to continue could be seen as undermining the country’s commitment to international humanitarian law.
The ban was originally imposed by an appeals court in February 2024. The court sided with human rights groups, ruling there was a “clear risk” the fighter jet components were contributing to violations of international law in Gaza. This decision directly challenged the government’s stance and set the stage for the current Supreme Court showdown.
The wider European context shows the Netherlands is not alone in this dilemma. Other EU members like Slovenia, the U.K., and Spain have taken steps to suspend or halt weapons sales to Israel amid the ongoing conflict. The Dutch Supreme Court’s decision will therefore be closely watched across the continent as a barometer of Europe’s legal and political resolve on the issue.