A court case in the Netherlands holds the key to the flow of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, and it all comes down to a warehouse. The country’s Supreme Court is hearing a final appeal in a case that has put a Dutch logistics hub at the center of the international debate over the Gaza war.
So, why the Netherlands? The country is one of three locations worldwide with a regional warehouse for F-35 parts. These U.S.-owned components are stored in the Netherlands and then distributed to partner countries as needed. This logistical role means that parts destined for Israel’s F-35 fleet often pass through Dutch territory.
This became a legal flashpoint after the war began on October 7, 2023. Three Dutch human rights groups sued their government, arguing this transit role makes the Netherlands complicit in how the jets are used. Given the high casualty rate in Gaza, they claimed this violated international law.
The legal process has been a tug-of-war. A district court initially said the shipments could continue. But then a higher appeals court in February 2024 said they must stop, citing a “clear risk” of the parts being used for war crimes.
The government has now taken the case to the Supreme Court. It argues that foreign policy is its job, not the courts’, and that the U.S. would just send the parts another way. The final ruling will clarify whether a country’s role as a logistical middleman comes with the legal power—and responsibility—to say “no.”