On Sunday, Al-Ghad reported that Germany and
Britain top the list of European countries that continue to support the Israeli
occupation with weapons, despite the latter facing charges of genocide in Gaza
by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and increasing pressure from human
rights organizations.
اضافة اعلان
While the US is the largest traditional supplier
of weapons to the occupation, Germany and Britain have also provided
significant support to Israel for many years.
According to current data from the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US supplied 70.2 percent of the traditional weapons
to the occupation during the period 2011–2020, followed by Germany at 23.9 percent and Italy at 5.9 percent.
According to the British non-governmental
organization Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), Germany and the UK do not
transparently disclose their weapons exports. However, based on information
obtained from open sources, the German government approved the sale of weapons
worth at least 1.4 billion euros to the occupation during the period 2015–2020.
During the same period, the UK sent warplanes,
missiles, tanks, light aircraft, and weapons to the occupation. Military
exports amounted to 426 million euros,
including weapon components and ammunition. These figures do not include German
and British weapons exports to the occupation through third-party countries.
German complicity raises red flags
According to a report regarding the approval of
arms sales to foreign countries issued by the German Federal Ministry for Economic
Affairs and Climate Action, the country’s sales of weapons and military
equipment to the occupation increased tenfold last year compared to 2022, reaching 326.5
million euros.
In the early weeks after the start of the
occupation’s attacks on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the German government approved
an additional 185 requests for licenses to export weapons supplies to the occupation.
While Germany has so far agreed to send armored
vehicles and protective equipment to the occupation, German news magazine Der
Spiegel reported on January 17 that the government is reviewing a shipment of
High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) ammunition requested by the occupation and
plans to approve it.
The Israeli government requested over 10,000 120mm tank shells from
Germany in November last year, and this request was discussed with utmost
confidentiality by the German Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministries of
Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Economy.
The UK’s long-time relationship with the
occupation
Since 1967, Britain has supplied military
equipment to the Israeli occupation, including approximately 15 percent of the components for the F-35 fighter jets used
in Gaza airstrikes.
Within the F-35 project, six different British companies participate, two of which sell
missiles to the occupation. Additionally, some companies, such as the Israeli
defense manufacturer Elbit Systems,
have licenses for trading military equipment in the UK.
The Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) have filed a legal challenge against Britain in the UK High Court on December
13, 2023. They argue that the British government’s export licenses for weapons
capable of being used in Israel’s actions in Gaza violate international law.
These licenses cover various categories, including components for military
radars, targeting equipment, combat aircraft, naval vessels, and more. Since
2015, there have been 472 million
pounds in limited-value standard license grants and 58 unlimited-value open licenses to
Israel. The latter lacks transparency and allows for unlimited quantities.
Italy’s response
As for Italy, the public response to the Israeli
war on Gaza has been prominent. On November 16, the leader of the opposition
party Five Star Movement,
former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte,
called for an immediate suspension of arms supplies to the occupation.
Similarly, the main opposition leader of the Democratic Party, Enrico
Letta, urged the government to halt
arms sales to the occupation on January 20, emphasizing that Italy cannot risk
selling ammunition that could be considered a war crime.
The situation remains critical, with international
attention focused on the conflict and the devastating impact on civilians in
Gaza. The need for accountability and adherence to international humanitarian
law is more urgent than ever.
As reactions escalated, Italian Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated on January 20 that Italy had decided to halt
arms shipments to the occupation starting on October 7. According to Tajani, no type of weapon has
been sent since that date.
However, the Italian-made weapons that were
previously provided to the occupation are currently being tested by the
occupation in Gaza. For instance, the 76mm naval gun, produced by
the Italian defense company Leonardo
S.p.A., was used by the Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) for the first time in Gaza.
Spain's contradictory arms sales claims
Spain has also suspended arms sales. The Spanish peace
organization Delàs Center for Peace
Studies revealed that Spain continued to export 987,000 euros worth of ammunition to
Israel in November, contradicting
the government’s claim that weapon exports to Tel Aviv had ceased since October. The Spanish political
sphere expressed outrage in response to this revelation.
French arms sales to Israel spark outrage
In France, the Ministry of Defense reported that
the country sold nearly 200 million euros worth of weapons to the occupation during the period 2013–2022. French
Defense Minister Sébastien
Lecornu stated that France primarily
provides intelligence support to the occupation.
Activists held a demonstration outside the
headquarters of the French defense company Dassault Aviation, condemning all French companies
selling weapons to Israel and their complicity in the war in Gaza. Opposition
lawmakers from the France
Unbowed party also signed a petition
urging an end to arms sales to Israel.
“We have been informed of South Africa’s new
request for interim measures regarding the ICJ,” responded French Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Christophe
Lemoine regarding whether France plans to suspend arms
shipments to the occupation after the ICJ’s decision.
“This request is being prepared for prosecution,
and the measures (precautionary) requested by the court are legally binding and
consistent with France’s stated desires,” he added. “We are committed to
respecting international law and reiterate our support and confidence in the
ICJ.”
On February
12, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, urged EU member states to halt arms
exports to Israel.
Borrell’s message directly concerns Germany, as
Britain is not a member of the EU, and Italy and Spain have already ceased
supplying weapons to Israel.
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