Belgium seizes military equipment bound for Israel

Shipment reportedly contained aircraft and fire control components Belgian authorities have seized two shipments of military equipment components bound for Israel, the news website Declassified UK reported. The shipments arrived from the UK at Belgium’s Liege Airport on March 24 and were scheduled to be flown to Tel Aviv two days later aboard an Israel-based Challenge Airlines cargo flight. Adrien Dolimont, head of Belgium’s Wallonia region, said authorities were alerted by the NGO Vredesactie and quickly intervened to inspect the cargo. “On Israel-related issues, our position is clear: we do not grant licenses for equipment that would strengthen the military capabilities of the parties involved,” Dolimont said. Read more Why Netanyahu won’t let the Middle East have peace any time soon While Belgium did not reveal the firms responsible, Declassified, citing shipping documents, reported on Tuesday that UK military export codes matched equipment related to military aircraft and fire control systems.

The outlet, citing customs records, said earlier shipments from the UK to Israel via Liege had been sent by Moog, a US aerospace company with factories in Britain. Several European countries have canceled weapons deals with Israel over its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, as human rights groups and the UN have accused Israel of indiscriminately killing civilians. In 2025, Belgium joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Israel has rejected the allegations as baseless and an attempt to “pervert the meaning of the term ‘genocide.’”