A court in Copenhagen has dismissed a lawsuit brought by four humanitarian organizations accusing Denmark of violating international law by allowing the export of military technology to Israel. The decision, issued Friday, is set to be appealed to Denmark’s Supreme Court, according to reports from AFP.
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The lawsuit was filed in 2024 by Palestinian rights group Al-Haq and three international NGOs—Amnesty International, Oxfam, and ActionAid Denmark. The plaintiffs argued that components of the F-35 fighter jets exported by Danish company Terma could be used by Israel to commit war crimes against civilians in Gaza.
However, the court ruled the organizations did not meet the legal requirement for “standing” under Danish law, stating that they were not directly or individually affected by the matter.
Tim Whyte, Secretary General of ActionAid Denmark, criticized the ruling. “This decision sets a dangerous precedent. It essentially means no one can challenge whether Denmark is violating international agreements,” he told AFP.
Danish Government Response
In a statement, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its position, asserting that “Denmark’s export control policies, including regarding the F-35 program, comply fully with EU law and international legal obligations.”
The lawsuit follows similar legal actions in the Netherlands, where a court also rejected a call to ban military exports to Israel in December 2023.
As Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, legal and political pressure on Western suppliers of defense components is likely to intensify.
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