Netherlands bashes war in Gaza while quietly buying Israeli weapons

The Netherlands wants to “open for discussion” whether Israel is adhering to its Association Agreement with the EU.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The Netherlands is in the midst of buying hundreds of millions of dollars of military equipment from Israel while siding with states that want to review whether the Jewish state should be allowed to maintain its preferred trading status and scientific cooperation with the European Union (EU) due to its conduct of the war in Gaza.

Globes reported on Thursday that The Netherlands is one of the countries taking the lead in calling to “open for discussion” whether Israel is adhering to the provisions of its Association Agreement with the European bloc, which include “respect for human rights.”

Several EU countries have voiced growing concern over Israel’s March decision to block humanitarian aid from reaching the Strip in order to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 58 hostages.

While The Netherlands blocked a similar move last year led by Spain and Ireland, among others, it is now talking differently.

“We are sending a message to Israel and taking a clear step,” said Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp.

Citing the alleged “catastrophic situation in Gaza,” he added, “We must set a red line.”

Shortly after the announcement, Finland, France and others joined the call.

A simple majority of EU countries voting for a review is enough to get it put on the agenda, but rescinding the Agreement would require the unanimous approval of all member states.

The “message” to Israel is a mixed one in Amsterdam’s case.

In early 2024, when Israel was at the height of its fight against Hamas, Amsterdam resisted activists’ demands to restrict the supply of spare parts for the IAF’s F-35 stealth bombers. However, a Dutch court ordered the government to stop the export because, it said, “there is a clear risk” that the parts “are used in serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

Israel has consistently rejected all claims that it is violating the law, pointing to its extensive efforts to protect civilians in Gaza while Hamas purposefully uses them as human shields.

The Dutch are also buying Israeli military hardware at prodigious rates.

Walla reported on Sunday that the Dutch are expected to be the next big customer for Israeli military firm Rafael’s Trophy tank defense system.

The Netherlands announced last week that it was purchasing 46 German Leopard tanks that will be shielded by an active protective system that it did not name but which looked exactly like Rafael’s product in a published simulation.

Each Trophy system costs $700,000, which would mean $32 million for the Israeli manufacturer.

This came on top of a September order for a large number of Rafael’s Spike LR2 long-range, anti-tank missiles.

In January, the Dutch contracted with Israel’s Elbit Systems for $175 million worth of protective systems for its aircraft and helicopters, after having ordered the company’s communications systems for fighters and command and control systems in 2024 in a deal worth tens of millions of dollars.

These purchases have been criticized by pro-Palestinian Dutch activists and politicians, but the government has nonetheless responded similarly each time.

As Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said in January, “Due to the increasing threat and obsolescence of current equipment, the military needs the best equipment in the shortest time in order to continue to perform the army’s tasks. This is critical for Dutch and European security.”

All in all, the Dutch have reportedly ordered some $2 billion in Israeli weaponry over the past five years.