A Copenhagen court made headlines on Friday by rejecting a lawsuit brought forth by four prominent humanitarian organizations, which claimed Denmark was violating international law through its arms exports to Israel. The Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, along with Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Action Aid Denmark, announced their intention to appeal the ruling to Denmark’s Supreme Court.
The lawsuit, filed against the Danish foreign ministry and national police last year, highlighted concerns that Danish military materials—specifically components for F-35 fighter jets—were potentially being used to commit serious crimes against civilians in Gaza. In their ruling, the Eastern High Court concluded that the four organizations did not demonstrate a direct and individual impact necessary under Danish law to warrant legal action.
Amnesty International’s Danish branch expressed strong dissatisfaction with the court’s decision. Vibe Klarup, the secretary general, stated, “Arms exports are a human rights issue, and our legal interest is clear.” She emphasized the urgency of the situation, referencing UNICEF’s alarming reports that at least 15,600 Palestinian children have died since the escalation of conflict in October 2023. “If we, as human rights and humanitarian organizations, cannot challenge the legality of the Danish government’s arms supply to Israel, then who can?” she questioned.
The associations specifically targeted the foreign ministry for its role in assessing the risks associated with arms exports, as well as the police, which oversee export licenses. In response, the Danish foreign ministry asserted that its export control policies, including those related to the F-35 program, comply with both EU and international law obligations.
Reports from Danish media outlets Danwatch and Information disclosed that parts manufactured by the Danish company Terma are used in Israel’s F-35 jets. Amnesty International has previously accused Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, further intensifying the debate over arms exports amid a humanitarian crisis.
The Danish lawsuit, filed in March 2024, follows a similar case in the Netherlands, where a court rejected demands from pro-Palestinian groups for a total ban on military-related exports to Israel. The ongoing conflict, ignited by Hamas’s unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in staggering casualties. The health ministry in Gaza reports an overall death toll of 50,846, a figure corroborated by the UN, while Israeli data indicates that 1,218 fatalities in Israel were primarily civilians.
As the humanitarian organizations prepare for their appeal, the legal and moral implications of arms exports during such a critical time remain under scrutiny, highlighting the ongoing struggle for accountability in the face of international conflict.
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