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Human rights groups sue Denmark over exporting weapons to Israel – JURIST

Amnesty International announced Tuesday that Danish human rights groups Oxfam Denmark, Amnesty International, Action Aid Denmark and Palestinian rights group Al-Haq are suing Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and national police to stop the country from exporting military equipment and weapons to Israel.The rights groups called upon the courts to determine whether Denmark violated arms trade rules in exporting weapons to Israel. The groups claimed that Denmark violated international rules on arms trade as the country exported weapons that would be used to commit serious crimes in Gaza.Secretary General of Action Aid Denmark Tim Whyte said that Denmark “should not be sending weapons to Israel when there is a reasonable suspicion that [Israel] is committing war crimes in Gaza.” Secretary General of Amnesty International Denmark Vibe Klarup also said that Denmark should not contribute to the bombings in Gaza as they are disproportionate and violate the rules of war. In addition, UN experts warned that any transfer of weapons or ammunition to Israel would likely violate international humanitarian law and must cease immediately.Relatedly, human rights groups sought to stop the Dutch government from exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel in a hearing that started on December 4, 2023. The groups challenged the Dutch government’s actions over obligations under the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the EU Common Position on Arms Exports Control. Denmark and the Netherlands are signatories of the ATT and the EU Common Position on Arms Exports Control, both of which prohibit the export of weapons and military equipment if international law may be violated.