Cabinet withdrew three weapons permits for export to Israel because of ‘deteriorating situation’ Gaza Strip

In July, the cabinet withdrew three permits that it had previously issued for the delivery of naval ship components to Israel. That is what outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Casper Veldkamp said on Friday News hour. Veldkamp called that step “unique” when asked.

The measures apply specifically to the permits for components of warships, after inquiries, it appears NRC at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those vessels are used to switch off targets at sea and in the air, such as submarines, planes and drones. The permits were withdrawn after a reassessment “because of the deteriorating circumstances in the Gaza Strip,” said the spokesperson.

Parts for Iron Dome

Since the start of the Gaza War on 7 October 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has granted eight permits for the export of ‘military goods’ used in Israel. This is evident from data that the ministry itself has published. In addition to the three permits for the delivery of parts of ships, it also concerns, among other things, the transit from Canada of parts for the Israeli Iron Dome-Air -airing system and because “demonstration equipment” that after participation has been sent back to Israel, where it is used.

From October 7, 2023, the Ministry said it has also rejected eleven permit applications for exports of military goods to Israel. According to Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands does not grant permits “if there is any suspicion that arms exports contribute to activities of the Israeli army in Gaza or on the West Bank”.

Risk of ‘unwanted end use’

The permits have again been placed “due to the deterating circumstances in the Gaza Strip” along the assessment criteria of the European Union’s arms export policy, Foreign Affairs told NRC. Those criteria have not changed since the start of the war, but the risk assessment of the use of the material is. “The risk of undesirable end use was considered to be so great in this reassessment that the three permits were withdrawn in July,” said Foreign Affairs.

The ministry says that, as the situation in Gaza is now “, it is currently” virtually excluded “that new permits are still granted for the export from weapons to Israel that can be used on the occupied West Bank or in the Gaza Strip. However, the government attaches to ‘the right to self -defense of Israel’, which, for example, the delivery of parts for it Iron Dome-Air to weather system. Of the two permits issued for those parts since October 7, 2023, one is still valid according to the Ministry.

On Friday, Germany also made the decisive decision for that country to stop all arms exports to Israel immediately. The Wapenembargo had been in the air for some time, but was quickly settled after the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that he wanted to occupy Gaza City. The number of German arms deliveries to Israel has been strongly reduced in recent months.

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