Belgium's Walloon government bans arms transfers to Israel via airports

By Selen Valente

BRUSSELS (AA) - The Walloon government in Belgium decided to ban arms delivery to Israel via airports on Tuesday because of pressure from non-governmental organizations.

Anais Mangon, spokesperson for Minister-President of Wallonia Elio Di Rupo, confirmed the move to Anadolu.

“In view of the situation in Gaza and the decisions of the International Court of Justice, the Minister-President has decided to act and signed a ministerial decree to ban all transit of arms to Israel, with or without transshipment. In other words, any transit of military equipment covered by the European Union's common list of military equipment to the State of Israel via Liège or Charleroi airports is prohibited,” Mangon said in a statement.

NGOs, including Amnesty International, National Action Coordination for Peace and Democracy (CNAPD), Human Rights League (LDH) and Vredesactie said in a statement May 23 that tens of tons of military material and components were sent from the US to Israel via the Liege Airport in eastern Belgium.

Belgium supports Palestine and the idea of recognizing it but officials, including Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, stress the need for a more effective movement.

Israel has killed nearly 36,100 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group, Hamas, on Oct. 7, 2023 which killed less than 1,200 people.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.