The Flemish government must stop all military goods to Israel following a ruling by the Brussels summary judgment court. The summary proceedings were initiated by several human rights organizations, who were trying to stop a container with military equipment.
That container has been in the port of Antwerp for over a month. The container contains tapered roller bearings intended for the Israeli company Ashot Ashkelon. That company produces and maintains, among other things, tanks and armored vehicles for the Israeli army.
A permit is required for the transit of military goods through Flanders. With tapered roller bearings, this is a complicated case because they can also be used for civilian purposes. There was no permit for the transport of this stock. That is why the organizations went to court for summary proceedings.
According to the plaintiffs, the tapered roller bearings are intended for military use. By allowing such shipments, the Flemish government is violating its own weapons legislation and international law, the organizations argue. According to the organizations, five ships depart from Antwerp to Israel every month.
The judge agrees with the plaintiffs’ claim. The transit ban to Israel applies not only to that one container, but the Flemish government must stop all products that may be used in military production. Only materials that are exclusively used for civilian products may be transited to Israel.
Fine of 50,000 euros per violation
The court finds that the Flemish government has so far acted too cautiously. It should have carried out more checks on its own initiative and not just after a notification.
If the Flemish government does allow military equipment to pass through, it must pay a penalty of 50,000 euros per violation. That amount can amount to a maximum of 5 million euros.
Israel uses the military equipment from Ashot Ashkelon in the war in Gaza, where more than 58,000 people have died. Due to the large number of victims, human rights organizations and scientists are calling on Western countries to take stricter measures against Israel. They warn of genocide in Gaza.