FedEx last night deleted evidence of munitions it illegally shipped to Israel through Irish territory.
It deleted this evidence from its online tracking system after The Ditch reported yesterday that FedEx still illegally uses Irish sovereign airspace to transport key components for combat jets – used to bomb Gaza – to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air base.
It’s a criminal offence under Irish air navigation law to transport munitions through Irish airspace without permission from the transport minister. Taoiseach Simon Harris said no such permission has been granted to transport weapons to Israel since October 2023.
The export of these F-35 fighter jet components to Israel came under increased international scrutiny this week.
Commenting on a joint investigation by The Ditch and Declassified UK, Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana said yesterday it is “deeply disturbing to learn that F-35 components have been covertly sent to Israel via British air bases and Heathrow, enabling 2000 lb bombs to be dropped on Gaza”.
‘Last night FedEx, in an unprecedented move, deleted the ITAR flag’
The Ditch first reported a month ago that FedEx illegally used Irish sovereign airspace to transport packages from the USA to the Nevatim IDF air base.
The Ditch reported a week later that FedEx was still transporting these munitions through Irish territory despite several warnings given to government.
The Ditch reported yesterday that four FedEx flights, loaded with munitions, were allowed through Irish airspace over the past 10 days despite advance warnings given to the táoiseach, tánaiste and transport minister.
FedEx flagged these packages – mainly F-35 combat jet parts – on its online tracking system as ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) goods.
ITAR is the US law controlling the sale and export of defence materials listed on the US Munitions List.
Last night FedEx, in an unprecedented move, deleted the ITAR flag from the munitions illegally transported through Irish territory to Israel.
The Ditch had however archived web pages of the tracked packages before the American multinational company removed the ITAR designation.
The Ditch’s reports that Dublin-based ASL Aviation transports these munitions on an Irish-registered plane from Cologne to Tel Aviv have led to protests outside the firm’s Swords office.
Campaign group Uplift, through its lawyers Phoenix Law, announced this week it will bring legal proceedings against government unless the state takes immediate action to stop the illegal transport of munitions through Irish airspace and export of dual-use goods.
FedEx has been contacted for comment.
