Pro-Palestinian campaigners took the Dutch state to court on Friday as they argued that it has failed to prevent genocide in Gaza by maintaining military ties with Israel and failing to end all business investments in the occupied Palestinian territories.
"States with unique leverage have a unique responsibility to prevent genocide and not to wait for it to happen," legal adviser to Palestinian NGO Al Haq, Ahmad Abofoul, told the court in The Hague.
Addressing presiding judge Sonja Hoekstra van Vliet, Mr Abofoul said: "You have the opportunity to contribute to stopping this because the Dutch government's involvement in this is sustaining the situation - not only genocide [but also] the longest occupation in history."
Lawyers speaking on behalf of the Dutch state told the court that they rejected such claims and described the NGOs' case as vague and unfounded. NGOs argue that the Netherlands is required under the Geneva Conventions to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.
Ms Hoekstra van Vliet opened the session by stating that the situation in Palestine was "very severe" and "very sensitive". She said that both the defendants and the plaintiffs recognised the illegality of the Israeli occupation. "The question is: what is legally happening today, and what can you expect from the [Dutch] state?" asked Ms Hoekstra.
The presiding judge repeatedly pushed lawyer Wout Albers, who represented the NGOs, to clarify whether they were asking that the Netherlands should stop exporting all types of weapons, including defensive weapons, to Israel, or just offensive weapons. "When there is a risk of genocide...all means need to be applied," said Mr Albers, who cited exports of warship components, radar systems, and F-16 parts that he said had been used on Gaza.
The International Court of Justice found in January that it was "plausible" that Israel was committing a genocide in Gaza – a finding that is often heard among pro-Palestinian circles but is rejected by Israel. It was also echoed by the Dutch state's lawyer, Veldhuis van Asperen, who said: "I do think it's good to nuance that it hasn't been established that genocide is likely."
'Discouragement policy' in occupied territories
Mr van Asperen opened his statement by highlighting the "complexity of the foreign policy of the Dutch state," and rejecting claims by NGOs that the "Dutch state one-sidedly supports Israel" by pointing at its stated support of a two-state solution.
He also argued that the Dutch state had a comprehensive review process of its weapons exports and that courts cannot tell the state what foreign policy to adopt. This argument has also been put forward by the state in a separate court case in the Netherlands that has temporarily blocked exports of F-35s parts to Israel.
Terminating all business ties with the occupied territories would contravene EU trade law, added Mr van Asperen, who said the Dutch state had a "discouragement policy" regarding investments there. Ireland, also an EU country, has set a precedent by amending its laws to abide by an ICJ opinion issued in July that says states must "take steps to prevent trade or investment relations" with those territories. "Plaintiffs didn’t mention concrete collaborations between Israel and the Netherlands that would be against international law," Mr van Asperen said.
A report published in December 2022 by Dutch NGO Pax for Peace showed that nine Dutch banks, pension funds, insurers and asset managers invested €12.5 billion euros from 2019 to August 2022 in companies involved in the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. "This puts them at high risk of contributing to systematic human rights violations," it said.
Mr Abofoul said that Dutch citizens and public servants were at risk of being sued. "Is it enough to say: we don't recognise settlements but we allow Dutch citizens to invest there?" Mr Abofoul asked the presiding judge. "What if, in the future, there will be individual criminal responsibility for Dutch citizens in aiding an abetting a war crime - is the Dutch government exposing Dutch companies and citizens to accountability and perhaps trials?"
A verdict is expected on December 13.
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2019 Jeep Wrangler
Price, base: Dh132,000
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 285hp @ 6,400rpm
Torque: 347Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.6L to 10.3L / 100km
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E660hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C100Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E488km-560km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh850%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOctober%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting%20there%20
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Ftravel%2F2023%2F01%2F12%2Fwhat-does-it-take-to-be-cabin-crew-at-one-of-the-worlds-best-airlines-in-2023%2F%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EEtihad%20Airways%20%3C%2Fa%3Eflies%20daily%20to%20the%20Maldives%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%20The%20journey%20takes%20four%20hours%20and%20return%20fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C995.%20Opt%20for%20the%203am%20flight%20and%20you%E2%80%99ll%20land%20at%206am%2C%20giving%20you%20the%20entire%20day%20to%20adjust%20to%20island%20time.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERound%20trip%20speedboat%20transfers%20to%20the%20resort%20are%20bookable%20via%20Anantara%20and%20cost%20%24265%20per%20person.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Rajasthan Royals 158-8 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 143/7 (20 ovs)
Rajasthan Royals won by 15 runs
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
