A group of NGOs had alerted the Minister-President N-VA of the imminent departure of this container, scheduled according to Friday, July 11. According to the Flemish authorities, this date mentioned on the carrier’s website has only an indicative value. “”It does not reflect a decision of my administration“Said Matthias Diependele.”I can guarantee that, as long as the investigation is underway, the cargo concerned is sidelined.“
If the contents of the container (conical roller bearings) is not intended for military but civil uses, no license is normally required. It is the strategic property control service (DCSG) that must verify the export and transit of arms cargoes. The three palettes of conical roller bearings are transported by the Maritime Company MSC.
According to De Morgen, they were produced by the American multinational Timken, in a French factory, and commanded by Ashot Ashkelon Industries. This company has an exclusive contract with the Israeli Defense Ministry. Ashot is responsible for the manufacture and maintenance of tanks and armored vehicles deployed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.
NGOs have brought legal action, for which crowdfunding was launched. They regret “the lack of transparency and communication from the Flemish administration“.
