On Friday, July 10, 2026, a hearing takes place at the Court of Appeal of The Hague on a motion in the appeal filed by Oxfam Novib, PAX and The Rights Forum against the Dutch State against the judgment of the preliminary relief judge of the District Court of The Hague of 12 July 2024 (judgment: Dutch).
In appeal, Oxfam Novib et al. claim that the State should be ordered to immediately cease (or have terminated) any (actual) export and transit of F-35 parts that are destined for Israel via third countries and specifically via the United States.
In this appeal, the State filed a motion in which it requested the Court of Appeal to be allowed to submit two secret statements by the Dutch Commander of the Armed Forces and the Deputy Commander of the Air Force. The hearing is only about this request of the State and focuses on the legal and procedural reasons for whether or not to include these two statements in the proceedings. The organizations object to the introduction of these secret documents.
On 3 October 2025, the Supreme Court granted a claim by Oxfam Novib et al. in earlier proceedings concerning the export of F-35 parts to Israel. In those proceedings, the Court of Appeal of The Hague had ordered the State to cease all (actual) export and transit of F-35 parts with final destination Israel because of the clear risk that Israel will commit serious violations of the laws of war in the Gaza Strip with the F-35 fighter jets. The Supreme Court found this order too far-reaching and therefore ordered the State (the Minister of Foreign Affairs) to assess the export of F-35 parts destined for Israel on the basis of the mandatory requirements of the EU Common Position (EUGS) and the Arms Trade Treaty. The State has now made this ordered reassessment (twice already) and has decided that the export of F-35 parts to Israel is not allowed.
The hearing at the Court of Appeal of The Hague is public and will not be digitally accessible via a live stream.
Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Start: 13:30
Location: Court of Appeal of The Hague
Address: Prins Clauslaan 60 The Hague (2595 AJ)
The organisations Oxfam Novib, PAX and The Rights Forum are represented by lawyers Liesbeth Zegveld and Thomas van der Sommen of Prakken d'Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers.
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