According to the newspaper Le Soir, all companies involved in the transportation of military equipment to Israel are now required to provide information about their flights to Belgian authorities on a daily basis.
The new order closes previously existing legal loopholes that allowed for so-called "continuous transit," where cargo was not unloaded during technical stops. The enforcement of the embargo is the responsibility of customs services and the Federal Public Service for Mobility and Transport of Belgium (SPF Transport).
Licenses for arms export in Belgium are managed by regional authorities, while issues related to transit and transportation are regulated by the federal government. This means that the new federal embargo could effectively block the use of previously issued regional export licenses.
Maxime Prevo previously emphasized that Belgium must take all possible measures not to contribute to ongoing conflicts, adding that this decision is in line with international law and serves as a clear signal at both European and international levels.
The conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023 and has continued for two years, has resulted in the deaths of over 71,000 Palestinians and injuries to more than 171,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children.
About 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure has been destroyed.
