Belgian Court Bans Further Transit of All Military Equipment to Israel in Landmark Ruling

By Strength in Numbers, July 19, 2025

In a groundbreaking ruling, the Brussels Court of First Instance has not only ordered the Flemish government to block a specific container of military equipment but also banned all further transit of military material to Israel. The judge found that Flanders is systematically failing to meet its obligations under arms legislation and international treaties, and even imposed a penalty for each shipment that still goes through. Four Flemish NGOs — Vredesactie, INTAL, 11.11.11 and the League for Human Rights — who brought the case, were upheld on all counts.

The container at the center of the case is located in the port of Antwerp. It contains so-called tapered roller bearings, produced by Timken via a French branch and destined for Ashot Ashkelon Industries, an Israeli defense company that supplies parts for Merkava tanks and Namer armored vehicles. According to the organizations, these systems are used daily in the genocide in Gaza.

Arms policy full of holes

The hearing revealed that the Flemish government exercises no active oversight, conducting arms control only when transport companies such as shipping firms request it themselves. “The Flemish arms embargo turns out to be an empty shell,” said Jo Dirix of Vredesactie. “That’s like asking a poacher to please report his illegal activities to the local police in advance.”

The Flemish government is also failing in its international obligations. “The Genocide Convention requires states to actively prevent genocide,” said Isabelle Vanbrabant of INTAL. “That starts by ending all involvement in military operations where war crimes are being committed.”

The complaint followed an earlier successful blockade of a container by the NGOs in the port of Antwerp. However, a second shipment to Israel subsequently departed without issue. Minister Matthias Diependaele publicly claimed that the container would be held as long as the investigation was ongoing. Yet transport documents suggest that a similar shipment with identical parts may have left just days later. On Wednesday, Diependaele stated that a container had been blocked by his services. It remains unclear whether this concerns the same shipment.

Court speaks in no uncertain terms

In its ruling, the court immediately prohibits the Flemish government from authorizing any new transit to Israel. Since 2009, there has been an agreement that no arms strengthening Israel’s armed forces would be exported — a policy that in practice has been severely undermined. To enforce the ban on new transits, the court has imposed a penalty of €50,000 per shipment that still leaves for Israel. The judge criticized the Flemish government for providing little to no information and stated that Flanders gave the impression it “did not have the situation under control.” This passive attitude is particularly problematic given the “crushing responsibility,” the judge said.

“This historic ruling acknowledges that the Flemish government bears a heavy legal responsibility when it facilitates military shipments to a state committing war crimes and possibly genocide,” said Fien De Meyer of the League for Human Rights. “The court has now said what politicians refuse to admit.”

No holiday for genocide

The organizations responded positively and now demand immediate enforcement of the ruling, along with reforms to make Flemish arms export policy watertight. They call for an effective arms embargo, active enforcement, and full transparency on all ongoing cases.

“The Flemish government must stop looking the other way,” said Willem Staes of 11.11.11. “As long as military equipment flows to Israel, no government or member of parliament should rest easy. Politicians may be heading into recess, but genocide doesn’t take a holiday. This ruling must be the starting point of real political accountability.”