NGOs take Israeli shipping company to court for: 'illegal arms trade via Antwerp port', 15 May 2024

The Israeli shipping company ZIM came under scrutiny in late 2023 after investigations by Peace Action and International Peace Information Service (IPIS) revealed that it transported as much as 246 tons of munitions from Hamburg through the port of Antwerp....

Today 11.11.11, Association Belgo-Palestinienne (ABP), Al-Haq Europe, Broederlijk Delen, De-Colonizer, Intal, Oxfam, Peace Action and Vrede vzw, filed a criminal complaint against ZIM....for violations of the Arms Trade Decree...

"The Flemish government clearly states not to approve any export or transit of arms to Israel if the end user is the Israeli government, as it would violate several of the criteria in the legislation. This transit is therefore a punishable violation of the Arms Trade Decree.” explains Hans Lammerant of Peace Action. “Given the ongoing occupation and war in Gaza, there is a significant likelihood that that end user will be the Israeli military and there is a clear risk that it will be used in war crimes."...

The timing of the organizations’ criminal complaint, May 15, coincides with the commemoration of 76 years of the 1948 ‘Nakba’ or ‘catastrophe’, when more than 800,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes, numerous massacres committed, and more than 531 villages were destroyed...

The humanitarian and rights organizations call on the Belgian government to take urgent action, to ensure a total halt of all import, export and transit of weapons to Israel, as well as all military collaboration with the Israeli arms industry...

"The risk of genocide has been clearly named, yet Israel continues its assault on Gaza and the attack on Rafah and countries and corporations continue to fuel this war" stressed 11.11.11 Director, Els Hertogen