Amnesty International has joined a criminal complaint against FedEx Belgium over the alleged unlawful transit of military equipment destined for Israel through Belgium, the rights organization announced on Wednesday.
The complaint was filed with prosecutors in the Belgian city of Liege and was initially brought by a coalition of civil society groups, including Vredesactie and Ligue des droits humains. The groups accuse FedEx Belgium of failing to obtain a required transit license for a shipment containing components for F-35 fighter jets, which they claim were ultimately headed for Israel.
Details of the Alleged Shipment
According to Amnesty International, the shipment originated at Hill Air Force Base in Utah in October 2024 and was destined for Nevatim Airbase in Israel. The cargo was unloaded at Liege Airport before being transported by road to Cologne Airport in Germany and then onward to Israel.
Under regulations in Belgium's Wallonia region, companies must obtain authorization for the transit of military equipment through its territory. Amnesty and its partners argue that failing to secure such a permit could constitute a criminal offense under Belgian law.
Call for Accountability
Carine Thibaut, director of Amnesty International's French-speaking Belgium branch, expressed concern about a pattern where Belgian and Walloon authorities are not implementing mechanisms to effectively regulate arms transit. By bringing this case, Amnesty hopes to stop further unlawful transit of arms through Belgium to Israel and secure accountability.
The complaint comes amid growing scrutiny of arms transfers linked to Israel's military operations in Gaza. Amnesty noted that Belgian authorities suspended licenses for certain military-related exports to Israel in 2024 following an International Court of Justice ruling that found a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza. Additionally, Walloon authorities subsequently prohibited the transit of weapons to Israel through Liege and Charleroi airports.
FedEx Response
FedEx Belgium rejected suggestions that it had knowingly transported weapons. In a statement to Amnesty, a company spokesperson said FedEx is committed to complying with applicable laws and regulations, does not ship weapons or ammunition internationally, and has strict screening procedures to prevent such shipments.
Amnesty said comments made by FedEx in 2025 indicated that some routes were altered during the brief conflict between Iran and Israel that year, potentially resulting in military-regulated cargo passing through Liege unintentionally.
The case adds to legal and political debates in Europe over arms transfers connected to the Gaza conflict, with rights groups calling for stricter enforcement of existing export and transit regulations.
