US funded weaponry illegally transported to Israel through Irish airspace

Invoices confirm the United States funded almost seven tonnes of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) weaponry illegally transported through Irish airspace.

In the past two weeks The Ditch has reported that more than 55 tonnes of Israel-bound munitions were transported through Irish sovereign airspace on six flights from October 2023 to February 2024.

On 27 November 2023, US-based weapons manufacturer Combined Systems issued two invoices to the “Government of Israel” for their purchase of 25,066 units of CS-containing cartridges. The Israel Defense Forces use the cartridges, which cause severe irritation to the eyes, against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The US-funded tear gas, which weighed more than 6.4 tonnes, was transported to Israel on a 1 February, 2024 Challenge Airlines flight, which flew through Irish sovereign airspace on its way to Tel Aviv. No consent was sought to carry these munitions over Irish airspace, according to taoiseach Simon Harris.