The Dutch House of Representatives has approved a plan to reduce the Netherlands’ reliance on military and security imports tied to Israeli industries, citing concerns over "Israel’s" heinous human rights record and involvement in serious violations of international law.
The decision, reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, was adopted in late January, shortly before the swearing-in of a new Dutch government later this month. Two of the three coalition parties voted in favor of the measure.
Parliament framed the move as a matter of principle rather than symbolism, stating that “it is not desirable for the Netherlands to be dependent on industries involved in war crimes.” Lawmakers described the policy as both a moral obligation and a strategic necessity. Under the approved plan, the government is required to submit regular reports to parliament outlining concrete steps taken to reduce imports originating from Israeli-occupied territories, according to an official familiar with the decision.
Over recent years, the Netherlands has purchased Israeli military equipment worth approximately $2.35 billion, creating deep and long-standing ties between Dutch defense procurement and "Israel’s" arms industry.
The official, cited by Haaretz, noted that while immediate changes to procurement may be limited, the long-term impact could be significant as existing contracts expire and alternative suppliers are developed.
The initiative aims to strengthen the Netherlands’ “strategic autonomy” in defense and security while distancing the country from suppliers linked to systematic violence against civilians.
The move follows a series of increasingly critical steps taken by the Netherlands toward "Israel" over the past year. In September, the Dutch government banned imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank, citing "Israel’s" efforts to entrench control over the territory.
Additionally, "Israel’s" war on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians and wounded at least 172,000 others, most of them women and children.
In July, the Netherlands declared far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich personae non gratae over their role in inciting violence against Palestinians and openly calling for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. The same month, Amsterdam joined 20 other countries in condemning "Israel’s" approval of a major settlement expansion in the Occupied West Bank as “unacceptable and contrary to international law.”
The Dutch government has also pressed the European Union to adopt economic and trade measures against "Israel". In May, it supported a legal review of the EU–"Israel" Association Agreement, which later found “indications” that "Israel" had breached the agreement’s human rights obligations.
Following that review, the Netherlands has worked to suspend "Israel’s" participation in the EU’s Horizon research funding program and to scale back broader trade relations.