Dog Training Center Four Winds K9 from Geffen has exported a large number of military dogs to Israel. This is what the Multinational Enterprises Research Foundation (SOMO) states from its own research. The dogs are probably used to attack Palestinians, including children, the elderly and medical staff, SOMO concludes.
Between October 2023 and February 2025, at least 110 veterinary certificates were issued for the export of dogs to Israel. Of these, a hundred were delivered to the company from Geffen. SOMO has determined this on the basis of information from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
“Dutch dogs are probably used to threat, attack, torture, injure and terrorize Palestinian citizens,” says the foundation. That would be apparent from testimonials, but also from leaked correspondence from the Israeli government and from documents from Dutch authorities.
It is not the first time that Four Winds K9 is under fire. In 2017, the company was charged with the serious injuries that a Palestinian teenager sustained after he had been attacked by a dog. The animal was delivered to the Israeli army by the company from Geffen. “Leaked communication shows that the Israeli Ministries of Defense and Justice have played an active role in supporting the legal defense of the company,” Somo now says.
Demonstration
Last October, the activist group Justice Now held a demonstration at the Geffense company. Justice Now already claimed that Four Winds K9 delivers dogs to Israel during the Gaza War. “We know that specially trained dogs are being used against Palestinians. More and more testimonials and images are coming out about trained dogs that intimidate or attack Palestinian citizens and hostages,” said a campaigner then.
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Legal case against the State
The same rules apply to the export of these dogs as for pets. Dutch MPs previously called on the rules to sharpen the rules so that human rights risks are also taken into account. That has not happened yet.
Somo and nine other Dutch and Palestinian organizations have therefore brought a lawsuit against the Dutch state. One of the requirements is to stop the export of military dogs to Israel.
The appeal on appeal in this case is expected to be in the summer of 2025.