Belgium Sues FedEx for Facilitating Weapons Shipments to Israeli Military
The accusations came after FedEx transported components for U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Israeli military through Liège Airport.
In the complaint, submitted on June 26, the group said that FedEx played a key role in moving shipments tied to American defense contractor Lockheed Martin between June 20 and 24.
These shipments, originating from U.S. military bases, were ultimately destined for Nevatim Airbase in occupied Palestine, the launch point for Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and, more recently, on Iranian territory.
The complaint, grounded in Belgium's criminal code, asserts that such transfers may constitute 'complicity in war crimes,' referencing the international Arms Trade Treaty and national regulations governing arms exports.
Hans Lammerant, a representative of Vredesactie, stated: 'This transit violates the Arms Trade Treaty and amounts to criminal complicity in war crimes under Belgian law.'
According to the legal filing, 7 out of 20 shipments handled by FedEx originated from Fort Worth, Texas, home to Lockheed Martin's F-35 production line.
Others came from Tracy, California, the headquarters of the Joint F-35 Program. All the cargo fell under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), meaning it was subject to strict oversight by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Although Lockheed Martin was listed as both sender and recipient, the route took the shipments through Cologne, Germany, before being transported by land to Liège.
Belgian authorities confirmed that no transit licenses were requested from the Walloon regional government, which has maintained a 2009 agreement prohibiting the transfer of arms supporting Israeli military operations.
Wallonia's Prime Minister Adrien Dolimont reaffirmed this position, stating unequivocally: 'No licenses will be granted for shipments that could bolster the Israeli armed forces.'
FedEx, for its part, denied any wrongdoing, claiming it fully complies with all applicable laws. However, investigative reporting by Belgian newspapers De Morgen and Le Soir, in collaboration with Irish outlet The Ditch, revealed a troubling lack of transparency.
The final recipients and exact contents of the shipments remain undisclosed. Some parcels weighed just a few kilograms, raising further questions about their classification and intended use.
This case follows earlier revelations by the same journalistic team, which uncovered the shipment of 70 tons of ammunition to the Israeli military via Liège Airport over a six-month period last year through another company, Challenge Airlines, sparking public outcry but no legal consequences.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=65220
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Days of Palestine
12 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
Israeli NGO: Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza, International community complicit
DaysofPal- The Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem has confirmed that Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip amount to acts of genocide against the Palestinian people, issuing a scathing public condemnation of the Israeli government's policies in the besieged territory. The organization stated that the Israeli military assault on Gaza goes beyond bombing and destruction, encompassing systematic forced displacement, clear attempts at ethnic cleansing, mass killings of civilians, and the creation of catastrophic living conditions that threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands, especially women and children. B'Tselem warned that these crimes are not limited to Gaza and could expand to other parts of the occupied Palestinian territories if urgent action is not taken to stop them. Moreover, the organization described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic by all standards, with famine, healthcare collapse, and widespread infrastructure destruction turning Gaza into a disaster zone that requires immediate international intervention. In addition, B'Tselem strongly criticized the positions of both the European Union and the United States, accusing them of failing to take effective action to stop the massacres in Gaza, and instead, contributing directly or indirectly to their continuation through political and military support or deliberate silence. The group called for a comprehensive and independent international investigation into the war crimes and acts of genocide committed in Gaza, urging the International Criminal Court and human rights organizations around the world to act urgently to stop this humanitarian catastrophe and ongoing assault. These statements come at a time when the death toll of Palestinians from the Israeli war since October 7, 2023, has surpassed 60,000 killed and wounded, most of whom are civilians, as the siege continues and there is no end in sight to the aggression. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
20 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
IOF Continues to Detain 11 Foreign Activists from Handala Ship
DaysofPal- The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to hold 11 out of the 21 foreign activists who were aboard the Freedom Flotilla's vessel, Handala, after Israeli naval forces intercepted and seized the ship. The Handala was part of a wider international effort aiming to raise awareness about the ongoing Israeli genocide and suffocating siege on the Gaza Strip and to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged population. The flotilla's organizers had announced the mission as a peaceful attempt to break the blockade, which has been criticized by many international organizations and governments as a form of collective punishment against nearly 2.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza. The activists on board came from various countries and included humanitarian workers, activists, and journalists who sought to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by years of blockade, military operations, and restrictions on goods and people. Upon interception in international waters, Israeli naval forces detained the activists and escorted the Handala to an Israeli port. While some activists were released, 11 remain in custody under investigation or administrative detention, with limited access to legal representation and family contacts, according to human rights groups monitoring the case. The Israeli occupation maintains a suffocating blockade on Gaza, whereas international criticism continues to mount regarding the legality and humanitarian impact of the siege and the interception of aid flotillas. Human rights organizations and international activists have condemned the Israeli crime, calling for the immediate release of all detainees and an end to the blockade. They emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza's civilians. The ongoing detention of these activists has sparked renewed debate over freedom of navigation, humanitarian access, and the broader political stalemate surrounding Gaza's future. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
20 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
Hamas: Trump's Denying of Gaza Famine Echoing Netanyahu's Lies
DaysofPal-The senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump for denying the existence of famine in the Gaza Strip, accusing him of amplifying Israeli disinformation and providing political cover for the continuing campaign of Israeli genocide and starvation. The member of Hamas's political bureau said in a statement on Sunday that Trump's comments reflect a 'blatant repetition of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's lies' and give Israel additional international impunity to escalate its military offensive against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. 'This denial comes in the face of overwhelming evidence from the United Nations and humanitarian organizations confirming the deaths of dozens of children due to starvation,' Rishq said, pointing to Israel's continued blockade of food and medicine and its obstruction of aid through official humanitarian channels. Moreover, Rishq dismissed U.S. allegations that Hamas has been stealing humanitarian aid, calling them false and unfounded. He cited a recent internal investigation by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), reported by Reuters, which found that the U.S. State Department made such accusations without providing any evidence, and that no systematic theft of aid by Hamas had been documented. Instead, Rishq accused the Israeli military of creating chaos around aid convoys by targeting Palestinian police officers tasked with securing relief deliveries, thus enabling organized gangs, allegedly operating under Israeli protection, to loot aid trucks. He urged the U.S. administration to refrain from promoting Israeli propaganda and instead 'uphold humanitarian values and take ethical responsibility for the siege, starvation, and mass killings taking place in Gaza.' The comments come as the war on Gaza enters its 661st day, with the humanitarian situation deteriorating rapidly. International aid agencies have warned of a full-scale famine, a collapsing healthcare system, and the deliberate targeting of civilians awaiting assistance. Shortlink for this post:
