A United Airlines flight illegally transported four ammunition handling systems – among military cargo overwhelmingly funded by the US government – to Israel through Irish territory this morning.
The munitions systems, as well as other military parts, are being delivered to Elbit Systems, Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) largest weapons supplier.
Most of the 19 shipments – more than two tonnes in total – identified by The Ditch were marked Foreign Military Financing, meaning the US is funding their supply to the Israeli armed forces.
The Ditch, along with Palestinian surgeon Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati and Uplift, last month launched High Court legal proceedings against the state over its failure to stop the unlawful carriage of Israeli munitions through Irish airspace.
More than two tonnes of military parts to Israel through Irish territory
United Airlines flight UA84 left Newark Liberty International Airport yesterday, on its way to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. The flight was carrying passengers and commercial cargo.
More than two tonnes of military goods ordered by Israel’s biggest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems, were onboard.
The military goods on the flight to Israel included four ammunition handling systems weighing just less than a tonne. These are typically integrated into turrets and used to fire ammunition from armoured personnel carriers.
Tyres and components for military aircraft were among the other items on the United Airlines flight that entered Ireland over county Clare just after 1am this morning.
One of the military shipments was addressed to the Israeli Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, according to the shipping records obtained by The Ditch.
The carriage of munitions of war without authorisation from the transport minister Darragh O’Brien is an indictable criminal offence under Irish air navigation law.
United Airlines declined to comment.
