Countries restricting weapons to and arming 'Israel': Explainer
8 Min Read
This explainer provides a brief summary of Western countries that have restricted or banned their arms exports to "Israel," while highlighting the governments that continue to be complicit in the occupation's ongoing genocide in Gaza.
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People protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, in London on April 27, 2024. (AFP)
For the past 11 months, "Israel" has been committing genocide in Gaza, killing over 40,000 Palestinians. Essentially, the occupation heavily relies on foreign financial and military aid to fund its ongoing aggression, especially when it comes to weapons.
Several countries have supplied weapons to the occupation. However, as genocide in the Strip continues, some governments have gradually shifted their stance by implementing restrictions or banning arms sales to "Israel" during its aggression in Gaza.
Western countries that have banned or restricted arms sales
UK
The United Kingdom is the latest country to impose restrictions on its arms sales to "Israel," with Foreign Secretary David Lammy announcing on Monday the suspension of 30 out of 350 existing arms licenses.
The diplomat attributed the halt to a two-month internal investigation, which reveaked that the occupation did not fulfill its duty of ensuring humanitarian aid for “the survival of the population of Gaza."
The decision, however, has been criticized by human rights groups since it excludes UK-made parts for F-35 advanced jets that are currently being used by "Israel".
Hannah Bond, co-CEO of ActionAid UK, is among those demanding the British government halt all new and existing arms licenses to "Israel", arguing that the UK risks being "complicit" in the daily atrocities being committed in Gaza.
"Now is not the time for half measures: if the UK government believes the Israeli military may be breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza, then it should go much further and halt all new and existing arms licenses to the Israeli government immediately," Bond said in a statement.
"Until it does, the UK remains at risk of being complicit in the atrocities taking place in Gaza daily. After 11 months of horror, it’s time for the UK to apply maximum pressure on the Israeli government to secure a permanent ceasefire and the release of the hostages – and finally put an end to this nightmare," she added.
Italy
On January 20, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani revealed that Italy had ceased its arms supplies to the Israeli occupation once the war on Gaza began. Since the decision, the government conceded that it was abiding by previously signed deals with the regime.
The UK-based research charity Action on Armed Violence reported that Italy is "Israel's" third-largest supplier of military equipment. However, despite this, the European country contributes to less than 1% of the occupation's overall arms imports.
Spain
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced on December 5 that Spain has ceased its arms sales to "Israel" since October 7.
However, according to data on the official foreign trade portal Comex analyzed by Center Delàs researcher Alejandro Pozo and verified by elDiario, Spain exported weapons to "Israel" worth 987,000 euros.
Specifically, goods were exported corresponding to a subcategory that includes “bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles, cartridges and other ammunition and projectiles, and their parts, including slugs, shots, and wads for cartridges” to be used as “weapons of war."
The Secretary of State for Commerce has assured that these exports were for licenses issued before October 7 and that they contain "material for tests or demonstrations, in no case for final use or capable of being used in the conflict."
Despite the previous controversy, it is evident Spain's stance amid the Israeli genocide in Gaza has shifted, such as when it denied permission for an Israeli-linked ship transporting arms to call at the southeastern port of Cartagena, Albares said on May 16.
Canada
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said that the administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will cease delivering arms to the Israeli occupation.
Speaking to the Toronto Star on March 19, Joly divulged that the shift is important and not just symbolic.
"It is a real thing," Joly told the Star shortly after a majority of Liberal MPs and cabinet voted in favor of a modified NDP motion.
Canada's parliamentary motion, initially proposed by the left-leaning New Democrats (NDP), called for the international community to pursue a "two-state solution". However, last-minute revisions were made to the language, removing explicit support for Palestinian statehood.
The initial motion called for the recognition of the State of Palestine but was changed to "establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution negotiation."
In addition, the initial motion urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but was then conditioned on disarming the Palestinian Resistance.
Third, the suspension of "all trade in military goods and technology with "Israel" and increased efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas" was rephrased to Canada's commitment to "cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with Canada's arms export regime and increase efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas."
Belgium
Belgium has shown significant support and solidarity with Gaza while denouncing the Israeli occupation regime and its ongoing violations in the Strip.
Aside from urging for the imposition of sanctions and refusing to screen the occupation's self-produced film regarding the events on October 7 in parliament, Brussels' local authorities restricted weapons sales to "Israel", with the government campaigning for a ban across the continent.
The Netherlands
On February 12, a Dutch court ruled that the Netherlands must cease its supply of F-35 fighter jet parts to the occupation, which is using the aircraft for its genocide in Gaza, contributing to international humanitarian law violations.
Despite this ruling, the country continued to supply the aircraft parts to the regime since the parts could make their way to the Israeli Air Force through alternative routes, such as the "Global Spares Pool," where collective stock of spare parts is maintained by several F-35-operating countries including the US.
Countries that continue to aid 'Israel's' war crimes through arms sales
The main arms suppliers to "Israel" are the United States and Germany, which provide the occupation with 99% of its weapons.
US
The United States constitutes 69% of "Israel's" weapon supply, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
President Joe Biden has condemned the occupation's daily bombardment on the small Palestinian land, describing it as "indiscriminate." However, the president and his administration refuse to cease its arms sales to "Israel," recently providing it with an additional $3.5 billion in military funding on August 9.
The following day, the Pentagon announced that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the sale of military equipment to "Israel" totaling over $20 billion.
The approved sales include F-15IA and F-15I+ aircraft worth $18.82 billion, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) valued at $102.5 million, 120mm tank rounds for $774.1 million, and modified M1148A1P2 medium tactical vehicles for $583.1 million.
In July, The New York Times published a report revealing that the US had sent over 20,000 bombs and missiles to the occupation.
The shipments include over 20,000 unguided bombs, approximately 2,600 guided bombs, and 3,000 precision missiles. The US has also provided aircraft, ammunition, and air defense systems.
Many of these transfers were kept secret or remained partially confidential, the report notes.
Essentially, the shipments of heavy, bunker-busting bombs were initially halted for May but were resumed in July.
Germany
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute revealed that Germany accounts for approximately 30% of global arms exports to "Israel," providing the occupation with portable anti-tank weapons, as well as ammunition for automatic or semi-automatic firearms.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany has not decided to terminate its arms supply to "Israel" despite the United Nations' highest court decision against "Israel" regarding its occupation of the West Bank and al-Quds.
When asked if the ICJ declaration referring to Israeli settlements as unlawful would impact Germany's decision, Scholz said his government has yet to give a judgment on the issue.
"But, of course, we decide on a case-by-case basis," he stated during an annual summer press conference.
Berlin deems its support for the occupation as a matter of Staatsräson, or reason of state, due to its historical responsibility for the Holocaust.
Denmark
Denmark is also complicit in aiding the occupation's crimes through its F-35 program, contesting court applications from several rights organizations, including Amnesty International, that aim to halt arms sales to "Israel."
