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Civil society groups sue Dutch state for ‘failing to prevent genocide in Gaza’
A coalition of Palestinian and Dutch civil society organisations have announced they are suing the Dutch state for “failing to prevent genocide in Gaza and other Israeli violations of international law”.
The groups said their main request is for the Dutch civil court to include a ban on the export and transit of weapons to Israel and investment relations that “help maintain Israel’s unlawful occupation and colonisation of Palestinian territory”.
They argue that The Netherlands is obliged, as a signatory of the Genocide Convention, to take measures to prevent genocide, whereas it keeps arming Israel and “consistently positioning itself as a political ally of Israel”.
This is happening even though the International Court of Justice ruled in January that Israel is plausibly committing genocide against Palestinians, they said.
German Chancellor promises to supply more weapons to Israel ‘soon’
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says his country is set to supply more weapons to Israel “soon”, after facing criticism from the opposition that Berlin has been deliberately delaying exports.
“We have not decided not to supply weapons. We have supplied weapons and we will supply weapons,” Scholz told parliament at an event to commemorate the victims of the October 7 Hamas attack.
The pledge put him at odds with France, where President Emmanuel Macron last week suggested an embargo on weapons for use in Gaza, sparking a sharp rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Germany’s approvals for arms exports to Israel have significantly decreased this year, totalling 14.5 million euros ($15.8m) from January to August 21, according to data from the Economy Ministry in response to a parliamentary question.
In contrast, Germany approved arms exports to Israel worth 326.5 million euros ($356.4m) in 2023.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks during a special session of the German parliament marking the first anniversary Hamas attack on Israel
Germany loves a good genocide...
Deficit in Israel rises to 8.5 percent of GDP: Report
The Times of Israel, citing preliminary figures released by the Finance Ministry, reports that military and civilian spending on the war on Gaza has pushed Israel’s budget deficit in September to 8.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).
The newspaper said this marks the sixth month that the deficit has been above the government’s annual target of 6.6 percent of GDP. The Finance Ministry has reiterated the target despite the Israeli military increasing its attacks on Lebanon.
