Dutch Supreme Court Grants Immunity to Israeli Military in Netherlands

The Dutch supreme court has ruled that two former Israeli military commanders, including ex-defense minister Benny Gantz, are immune from civil prosecution in the Netherlands over the deaths of six Palestinians in an Israeli air strike. The court upheld a previous appeals court finding that Gantz and ex-air force commander Amir Eshel, as high-ranking Israeli officials carrying out government policy, cannot be held liable in a Dutch civil case. The plaintiff, a Dutch national of Palestinian origin, sought damages against Gantz under Dutch universal jurisdiction rules. Human rights groups have accused both sides of war crimes during the 2014 conflict in Gaza.