4 days ago
- Business
- Days of Palestine
Belgium Sues FedEx for Facilitating Weapons Shipments to Israeli Military
DayofPal– The Belgian peace organization Vredesactie has filed a criminal complaint against U.S. shipping giant FedEx, accusing the company of violating both international and Belgian law over Gaza war.
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.
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