A Brussels court on Thursday ordered the Flemish regional government to immediately block the transit of all military equipment and dual-use goods bound for Israel via its territory, including through the Antwerp-Bruges port. The ruling threatens the region with a €50,000 fine for every violation and remains in force unless exporters can provide concrete proof that the cargo is intended solely for civilian use. The judgment follows an emergency lawsuit brought by the NGOs Vredesactie, INTAL, 11.11.11 and the Human Rights League after customs officials intercepted a container of tapered roller bearings last month in Antwerp. The bearings were destined for Israeli defence company Ashot Ashkelon, which uses them in Merkava tanks and Namer armoured vehicles currently employed in Gaza. The plaintiffs argued that allowing such shipments breached Belgian arms-export rules and international humanitarian law. The Flemish government had not issued a public response by late Thursday. Rights groups hailed the decision as a landmark, saying it places legal responsibility on regional authorities to police arms-related trade. The order could disrupt a regular maritime route between one of Europe’s busiest ports and Israel, pending either compliance or a successful appeal.