Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Belgian Court Rules Flanders Government Should Stop Transit of Military Equipment to Israel
Euronews ^ | 8/7 | Amandine Hess

Posted on 08/07/2025 11:38:20 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Associations lodged a complaint against the Flemish government in June after military equipment bound for Israel was discovered in the port of Antwerp.

A court in Belgium has ordered the Flemish government to stop the transit of military equipment to Israel, following the discovery of hardware in the port of Antwerp earlier this year.

The Court of First Instance in Brussels ordered the regional government to block the Antwerp shipment and prohibit any future transit of military equipment to Israel, which faces growing criticism in the West for its handling of the war in Gaza.

The judge also imposed a fine of €50,000 for any arms shipment sent to Israel.

The judgement came in response to a complaint lodged in June by four Flemish associations.

Speaking to Euronews, Lichen Ullmann, the coordinator of the Vredesactie movement, which was involved in the complaint, explained that the containers found in Antwerp "included pallets of tapered roller bearings, which are something used in tanks and armoured vehicles."

"They are shipped specifically to a company called Ashot Ashkelon in Ashdod in Israel, which is an exclusive supplier to the Israeli army of Merkava tanks, which are used in Gaza in the genocide," Ullmann added.

Belgium has banned arms exports to Israel since 2009, with the country's regions responsible for controlling the transit of weapons and their components.

However, the hearing in Brussels revealed that the Flemish government only controlled arms when transport companies requested it.

The judge concluded in July that Flanders was in breach of its obligations.

Ullmann said the judge cited the Geneva Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty, which prevent countries from exporting military equipment that could be used to commit war crimes or genocide.

"So there is a very broad basis for this case and it has been confirmed on all sides, including the ban on the specific container, but also on all other shipments of military equipment to Israel that could potentially be used in genocide," Ullmann noted.

Contacted by Euronews, the Flemish government, which can still appeal the decision, did not respond to questions.

The Brussels court judgement comes as an increasing number of Israel's allies, including the UK, have expressed concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza after almost two years of Israeli military action.

The war began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

Hamas took 251 people as hostages, and is currently holding 50, of whom 20 are believed to be alive.

A subsequent Israeli offensive has to date killed 61,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry whose figures do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: belgium; flanders; israel
For those of you in Rio Linda, Flanders is the Dutch part of Belgium as opposed to the French part. I think it represents almost 60% of the population of the country.



In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

1 posted on 08/07/2025 11:38:20 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

islamic judge ,LOL


2 posted on 08/07/2025 11:39:25 AM PDT by butlerweave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: butlerweave

Or just French.


3 posted on 08/07/2025 11:41:16 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

4 posted on 08/07/2025 11:51:02 AM PDT by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
......tapered roller bearings, which are something used in tanks and armoured vehicles."

"Common real world applications are in agriculture, construction and mining equipment, sports robot combat, axle systems, gear box, engine motors and reducers, propeller shaft, railroad axle-box, differential, wind turbines, etc."

Per Wikipedia quote above, basically anything that uses a turning shaft.

5 posted on 08/07/2025 11:51:32 AM PDT by jimtorr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Europe never lost its anti-Semitic roots.


6 posted on 08/07/2025 11:52:12 AM PDT by packrat35 (Pureblood! No clot shot for me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Antwerp. One of my favorite towns in Belgium (along with Bruges).

Or used to be, before it was completely and totally ruined by Muslim scum. Also used to have one of if not the highest number of Jews in Europe. Many have fled after many violent attacks.

7 posted on 08/07/2025 11:54:19 AM PDT by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: packrat35
Europe never lost its anti-Semitic roots.

Ahhhh yes.....European Christians are inherently bad. Evil from the roots up. Just like all goy, really.

8 posted on 08/07/2025 11:56:23 AM PDT by nitzy (I don’t trust good looking country singers or fat doctors.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Ned is going to be so mad at you.


9 posted on 08/07/2025 12:18:51 PM PDT by dangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Léon Degrelle would approve.


10 posted on 08/07/2025 12:19:50 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The French in WW2 were very enthusiastic in aiding the Gestapo in rooting out Jews. One might say they were more enthusiastic than the Germans. That they would oppose Israel and aid Hamas is no surprise.


11 posted on 08/07/2025 12:39:29 PM PDT by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

The French in WW2 were very enthusiastic in aiding the Gestapo in rooting out Jews. One might say they were more enthusiastic than the Germans.


That said, 75% of French Jewish citizens did survive the war, the highest percentage of any occupied country.

But during the 20s and 30s, many alien Jews moved into France, without ever becoming French citizens, and it was these that Vichy was more than happy to let the Nazis take off their hands, especially since some believed they would all be taken to “Family Camps” in the East.


12 posted on 08/07/2025 12:42:38 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson