A cargo flight carrying almost 150 kilogrammes of replenishments for Israel's bombing of Gaza illegally passed through Irish territory this morning – just hours after Israel violated its ceasefire with Hamas, killing more than 400 people, including 183 children.
Last week government “distanced itself” from plans to inspect planes carrying weapons to Israel, the Irish Times reported. Plans put forward by former minister for transport Eamon Ryan proposed randomly checking flight manifests to check if planes are carrying weapons and a briefing document was prepared for current transport minister Darragh O’Brien.
“Irish officials are”, however, “conscious of the reaction of the Trump administration to any efforts to inspect Israel-bound flights originating in the United States” wrote journalist Conor Gallagher.
Lufthansa Flight LH439 from Dallas to Frankfurt flew over Donegal at approximately 6.20am carrying four packages of F-35 combat jet components weighing 140 kilogrammes. The components were for delivery to Nevatim air base in Israel.
Almost 500 kilogrammes of munitions have flown over Ireland to Israel this month alone.
Al-Jazeera reported yesterday the majority of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air strikes have targeted "heavily built-up neighbourhoods, makeshift schools and residential buildings where people are taking shelter”. Most of the people who died are believed to be women, children and the elderly, with “entire families” killed.
The bombing resumes, the flights pass over Ireland
Israel repeatedly violated its ceasefire with Hamas – blocking aid from entering Gaza, preventing tents and other forms of shelter from reaching Palestinians and killing more than 150 people – before breaking it completely yesterday with its latest bombing campaign.
The country also targeted a UN site in Deir el-Balah, killing at least one member of staff and injuring five others.
Flights carrying munitions to the Israel Defense Forces have continued since government announced it was “engaging” with the airlines reported by The Ditch to have repeatedly undertaken illegal flights through Irish airspace.
Government sources have indicated to the Irish Times it does not intend to take action against the airlines because it might upset US President Donald Trump.
Separately on March 6 a Lufthansa flight from Dallas to Frankfurt passed through Irish airspace, entering over Mayo and exiting North Dublin. It was carrying 107 kilogrammes of F-35 combat jet components.
These were bound for Nevatim air base, a facility used by the IDF as part of its Gaza military operations.
Another flight carrying military equipment passed through Irish airspace earlier this month.
On March 2 Lufthansa Flight LH439 transported 239 kilogrammes of cargo comprising five packages of F-35 parts sent from the Defense Logistics Agency in Tracy, California to Nevatim Air Base in Israel.
The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment.
