Court in Belgium orders halt to delivery of high-level military equipment to Israel
In a landmark decision on July 17, 2025, a Belgian court ordered the halt of a shipment of bearings destined for an Israeli defense company, Ashot Ashkelon Industries, and mandated the Flemish government to block the supply of all dual-use materials intended for Israeli companies.
The shipment, which has been stuck at the port for a month, was being scrutinised as part of a judicial investigation. The court's ruling was influenced by concerns about the potential military use of the tapered roller bearings, a dual-use item with applications in Israeli military vehicles like the Merkava tanks and Namer armoured vehicles[1][2][3].
The decision followed a legal challenge by four Belgian NGOs, who argued that the Flemish authorities had inadequately monitored military-related exports to Israel, risking violations of national arms trade laws and international humanitarian law[2][4]. The court emphasised the need for strict scrutiny of dual-use items to ensure they are not used for military purposes, especially in contexts involving significant humanitarian concerns[4].
The court's ruling is a response to Israel's offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has been criticised for resulting in serious violations of human rights. This offensive is also a factor in the review of Belgium's relations with Israel by the EU[5][6]. The lack of consensus within the EU is a reason for not imposing sanctions on Israel[7].
The court has ordered the Flemish authorities to halt all traffic of material whose civilian use is not certain, and imposed fines of €50,000 for each violation[2]. The Flemish government is appealing the ruling[2].
This decision underscores the growing international scrutiny on the arms trade to Israel and the need for accountability in the context of ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
[1] Ashot Ashkelon Industries: https://www.ashotashkelon.com/ [2] Court Ruling: https://www.vlaanderen.be/actueel/nieuws/2025/07/17/rechtbank-halt-export-dual-use-material-naar-isra%C3%ABl [3] Merkava Tank: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkava [4] Legal Challenge: https://www.stopwapenhandel.be/nieuws/2025/07/17/rechter-halt-export-dual-use-material-naar-isra%C3%ABl [5] EU Report: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/30946/eu-report-israeli-settlements-illegal [6] Belgium-Israel Relations Review: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belgium-review-relations-israel-over-gaza-strip-offensive-2021-05-19/ [7] EU Sanctions: https://www.euractiv.com/section/foreign-affairs/news/eu-sanctions-on-israel-over-gaza-strip-stalled-by-lack-of-consensus/
The court's ruling on the halt of the shipment of dual-use materials to Ashot Ashkelon Industries has been influenced by concerns about their potential military use and their role in Israeli military vehicles, such as the Merkava tanks and Namer armored vehicles. This decision is a response to the ongoing humanitarian concerns in contexts involving significant conflicts, like the one in the Gaza Strip, and emphasizes the need for accountability in the general news category of crime and justice, political, and war-and-conflicts, particularly in the context of international humanitarian law violations.
