On Wednesday June 3, Amnesty International added its name to a complaint filed against FedEx Belgium, regarding the illegal transit of weapons, including components for F-35 fighter jets, widely used in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian population in the occupied Gaza Strip.
The human rights organization joined a coalition of civil society organizations, including Vredesactie, the Human Rights League, and the National Coordination of Action for Peace and Democracy, which filed a complaint against FedEx Belgium with the public prosecutor’s office in Liège, in the Wallonia region, in Belgium. This company is the Belgian subsidiary of the American delivery giant.
Under the laws in force in Wallonia, a federal region with legislative power, FedEx Belgium was required to obtain a transit license from the local authorities for the shipment of this cargo, which it did not do. The transfer of weapons of this type without this license is a criminal offense under Belgian law.
“The F-35 fighter jets are the most advanced combat aircraft employed by the Israeli Air Force, which has caused widespread killing and destruction, wiping out entire generations of Palestinian families and reducing poverty. the state of ruins most of the Gaza Strip. The genocide that Israel continues to perpetrate requires a constant supply of weapons; and all States, including Belgium, have the duty to prevent and punish genocide, and not to contribute to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel, a situation which requires the immediate cessation of any transfer or transit of weapons that could be used to commit crimes of law international,” declared Carine Thibaut, director of the French-speaking Belgian section of Amnesty International.
In October 2024, a shipment subject to the U.S. International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR) was transported by FedEx from Hill Air Base, Utah, to Nevatim Air Base, Israel, according to information available on the FedEx website.
As of June 2025, statements made by FedEx indicate that “certain FedEx flight routes have been reconfigured at short notice for operational reasons” due to the closure of Israeli airspace during the “12 Day War.” » between Iran and Israel. Consequently, “certain goods subject to ITAR regulations may have transited through Liège involuntarily”.
The cargo was unloaded at Liège airport, then transported by road to Cologne airport, before continuing its transfer to Israel.
Violations of international law
According to other information relayed by the media, cargoes have transited illegally through Liège airport since then, which would indicate a failure in the duty to apply local laws.
“We fear that this reveals well-established practices whereby the Belgian and Walloon authorities do not adopt mechanisms to properly regulate the transit of weapons. By bringing this case to justice, we hope to prevent further weapons from being trafficked illegally through Belgium to Israel, and to ensure accountability. It is not acceptable that multinational companies like FedEx can flout the rules when it suits them. They are not above the law,” declared Carine Thibaut.
International law prohibits all states from transferring weapons to parties to armed conflict when there is a clear risk that such transfers will contribute to serious violations of international humanitarian law. The July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice concluded that states have an obligation to refrain from helping to maintain Israel’s illegal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
States that continue to transfer arms to Israel are acting in violation of their obligations under the Geneva Conventions and, for those that have ratified it, the Arms Trade Treaty.
Research by Amnesty International also shows that the Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed Martin) continues to supply and maintain F-16 fighter jets and a growing fleet of F-35s, which were used extensively during the bombing of the occupied Gaza Strip.
Companies that manufacture and export weapons have a responsibility to respect human rights and international humanitarian law, including through enhanced human rights due diligence throughout their value chain, to ensure that exported weapons are not used to commit serious violations that may amount to crimes under international law.
“This case comes as EU governments and businesses face renewed pressure to go beyond words of condemnation and take steps that are crucial to ending the genocide that Israel continues to perpetrate against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. occupied, to its illegal occupation of the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory and to its cruel system of apartheid against all Palestinians whose rights it controls. Human dignity is not a commodity. States, businesses and many other actors must give up their deadly addiction to economic gains and profit at all costs,” declared Carine Thibaut.
Complément d’information
In 2024, Walloon authorities suspended licenses for the export of explosive powder to Israel, citing the order issued on January 26, 2024 by the International Court of Justice, according to which there was a plausible risk of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The authorities also highlighted the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and subsequently banned the transit of weapons to Israel through Liège and Charleroi airports.
The federal prosecutor’s office was also seized of another case, which gave rise to a judicial investigation.
Amnesty International contacted FedEx Belgium to request a comment on the matter, and received the following statement from a company spokesperson: “FedEx is committed to respecting applicable laws and regulations. We do not carry out international deliveries of arms or ammunition, and have put in place strict control procedures to avoid these types of shipments. »
Amnesty International urges all states to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel. This must include all weapons, equipment, technology or components that could enable Israel to continue its genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza, as well as its illegal occupation and apartheid system, in particular law enforcement and surveillance equipment.
