Challenge Airlines appeals against Belgian ban on arms transport to Israel

Challenge Airlines appealed against the royal decree of June 4 by Federal Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet, and against a Walloon decision banning arms transport to Israel. The fact that Challenge Airlines filed an appeal seems to indicate that the transport of weapons and war materials to Israel was indeed part of the activities at Charleroi airport, writes L’Echo.

Challenge Airlines is the Belgian division of an Israeli aviation group, with the parent company having its headquarters in Malta. The group provided no comment to L’Echo.

“The applicable international law formally prohibits the Belgian state from allowing the transport of weapons if it knows that the weapons could be used for genocide, crimes against humanity or attacks on civilians,” says Benjamin Bergiers, spokesperson for Gilkinet. “The International Criminal Court in The Hague recognized that situation in Gaza, in a May 2024 decision, ordering Israel to immediately cease its military offensive. The Belgian state must therefore ban any arms transport to Israel and take concrete measures to ensure that this ban is effective.”