Ireland orders airlines to avoid its airspace when carrying Israeli munition

Aircraft transporting weapons and military equipment for Israel have been prohibited from using Irish airspace, Israeli media reported this week.

It came after the Irish transport ministry was investigating allegations that munitions for the Israeli forces were transported through Irish airspace, according to a report by The Ditch news site.

At least four civil flights carrying munitions to weapons manufacturers and contractors in Tel Aviv occurred this year, the news site reported.

Irish premier Simon Harris said on Tuesday that the transport ministry was investigating the allegation.

"It is very important now that the facts are established," Harris said, adding: "The Department of Transport has confirmed today that it is now engaging with the carrier."

Carrying weapons of war on a civil aircraft in Irish airspace was prohibited unless an exemption was granted by the transport minister, he said.

He confirmed that no applications had been received, or exemptions granted in 2023 or so far in 2024.

"Once those facts are established, of course it could be for the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Defence to provide a further update on this and I’ll certainly be keeping in contact with both of them," he added.

Israel has been accused of carrying out genocide against Palestinians in its onslaught of Gaza, which began on 7 October and has killed so far at least 40,600 people - most of whom were women and children.

In May, Ireland officially recognised the state of Palestine, becoming one of the first EU countries - alongside Norway and Spain - to do so, in a move that signaled strong support for Palestinian self-determination.