In a significant ruling, a Copenhagen court on Friday rejected a lawsuit brought by four humanitarian organizations that accused Denmark of violating international law by exporting weapons to Israel. The Palestinian human rights association Al-Haq, along with Amnesty International, Oxfam, and Action Aid Denmark, announced plans to appeal the decision to Denmark’s Supreme Court.
The lawsuit, filed last year against the Danish foreign ministry and national police, stemmed from concerns over the potential use of Danish military materials—specifically components for F-35 fighter jets—in committing serious crimes against civilians in Gaza. The Eastern High Court concluded that the four organizations did not demonstrate a direct or individual impact necessary under Danish law to pursue legal action.
Amnesty International’s Danish branch expressed strong disagreement with the ruling. Secretary General Vibe Klarup stated, “Arms exports are a human rights issue, and our legal interest is clear.” She emphasized the urgency of the matter, referencing UNICEF’s reports that at least 15,600 Palestinian children have been killed since the escalation of conflict in October 2023. “If we, as human rights and humanitarian organizations, cannot legally challenge the Danish government’s decisions regarding arms supplies to Israel, then who can?” she questioned.
The lawsuit specifically targeted the foreign ministry for its role in assessing the risks associated with arms exports and the police for issuing export licenses. In response, the Danish foreign ministry maintained that its export control policies, including those related to the F-35 program, align with EU and international law obligations.
Reports from Danish media outlets Danwatch and Information revealed that parts produced by the Danish company Terma are utilized in Israel’s F-35 jets. Amnesty International has previously accused Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
This lawsuit comes on the heels of a similar case filed in the Netherlands, where a Dutch court rejected calls for a total ban on exporting military-related goods to Israel. The ongoing conflict, which began with Hamas’s unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The health ministry in Gaza reports that the overall death toll has reached 50,846, a figure confirmed by the UN, while Israeli data indicates that 1,218 of those killed in Israel were predominantly civilians.
As the humanitarian organizations prepare to appeal, the legal and moral implications of arms exports amid ongoing conflict remain a contentious issue in Denmark and beyond.
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