Belgium Blocks Arms Shipment Bound for Israel

Darwin, 06 November-

Belgium has halted an arms shipment destined for Israel for nearly a month, according to a report by the Belgian news agency Belga, citing government officials.

The Belga report states that the regional government of Wallonia, located in southern Belgium, intercepted the shipment. The cargo reportedly contained radio frequency equipment, related components, and antennas intended for military use.

According to Belga, on October 9, a cargo aircraft carrying these items departed from Zurich Airport in Switzerland, bound for Liège Airport in Wallonia. The equipment and antennas were manufactured by the Swiss company SwiSto 12. After a brief stopover in Liège, the plane was scheduled to continue to Israel’s commercial capital, Tel Aviv.

Two days earlier, on October 7, Swiss media outlet Heidi News had published a report on this weapons shipment. That report caught the attention of the Wallonian regional authorities.

Upon the aircraft’s arrival in Liège, airport authorities immediately grounded it.

Officials from the Wallonia regional government told Belga News Agency, “We confirmed that the cargo on board was being transported for military purposes. Since these are military goods, we requested the Swiss government’s export license and Wallonia’s transit license from the flight’s crew. They failed to provide the required documentation, and therefore the aircraft remains grounded at Liège Airport.”

Wallonia’s Minister-President, Adrien Dolimont, commented, “Given the current situation in the Middle East, we are exercising extreme caution in approving any shipments of military equipment bound for Israel.”

It is worth noting that in October, France and Saudi Arabia co-hosted a global conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York to discuss recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state. Several countries, including France and Belgium, officially recognized Palestine during the summit.

Source: Anadolu Agency