Brussels court orders halt of transit of military material to Israel
The judge also ordered the government of Flanders, the Belgian region in which Antwerp is located, to stop all transit of material for military use and defence-related products unless they are exclusively intended for civilian use.
The judge also imposed a penalty of €50,000 (US$57,927) per violation.
The court sided in its ruling with four non-profit organisations, which argued that the regional government was violating its own arms trade legislation as well as international humanitarian law by allowing the transit of military equipment through the port of Antwerp.
According to one of the organisations, Vredesactie, the tapered roller bearings arrived from France in Antwerp and were destined for the Israeli defence company Ashot Ashkelon Industries, which produces tanks and armoured vehicles deployed by the Israeli army in Gaza.
Vredesactie says five ships sail between Antwerp and Israel every month, and it suspects the vessels of carrying military material.
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