Israel’s national airline illegally transported munitions over Ireland

EL Al – Israel’s national airline – has for the last year been illegally transporting Lockheed Martin’s munitions to Israel through Irish sovereign airspace.

The munitions are parts for the F-35 jets the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uses to bomb Gaza. The most recent flight uncovered by The Ditch took place this August.

These flights are separate from those the Department of Transport confirmed to have flown through Irish airspace – carrying munitions to Israel as reported by The Ditch.

On Tuesday Paschal Donohoe, during leader’s questions in the Dáil, refused to say if more than nine flights transported munitions to Israel over Ireland’s airspace.

Carrying munitions of war through Irish airspace without permission from the minister for transport is a criminal offence punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment. The Department of Transport recently said no such approvals to carry weapons destined for Israel have been granted since October 2023.

Micheál Martin has said he’s open to banning airlines from Irish airspace if they are ruled to have broken Irish law. “I think the basic action is saying to those airlines ‘you’re not allowed to fly through Irish airspace if you violate the basic rules,’” he said.

Used to drop 900 kilogrammes bombs in Gaza and Lebanon

On 24 October 2023, an EL AL direct flight from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv entered Ireland above county Clare and exited over county Wexford. 

There were critical components for the IDF’s F-35 fighter jets onboard – to be delivered to Lockheed Martin in Nevatim air force base, Israel.

There were more similar flights – in May and August this year. 

Further F-35 munitions for delivery to Lockheed Martin’s Nevatim base were transported over Ireland by EL AL on two direct flights from JFK International Airport in New York to Tel Aviv on 13 May and 20 August this year. 

Since October 2023 the IDF has pummeled Gaza with 900 kilogramme US-made bombs dropped from F-35 combat jets, contributing to the death of more than 40,000 civilians. 

In recent days Israel has reportedly used Lockheed Martin-made F-35s in attacks on Lebanon.

British government ministers were warned earlier this month that they face criminal liability if they continue to export British-made components for Israel’s F35s. 

The government of Israel owns a five percent stake in EL AL, which has recorded record profits since the start of the war in Gaza.

The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment.