France bans Israeli firms from annual Eurosatory arms fair
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Seventy-four Israeli enterprises were scheduled to be represented at the show, which runs from June 17 to 21.
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A file photo of the Eurosatory Defense and Security trade show in Villepinte, outside Paris. (AP)
French authorities have barred Israeli military businesses from participating in a trade expo near Paris next month, organizers announced on Friday.
Organizers Coges Events revealed that "there will be no stand for the Israeli defense industry," as per a government decision.
Seventy-four Israeli enterprises were scheduled to be represented at the show, which ran from June 17 to 21 at fairgrounds near Paris' main international airport. Coges earlier stated that around ten of them would demonstrate weaponry.
The Israeli embassy declined to comment when reached by AFP.
For the third consecutive day, France is witnessing protests in support of Palestine and in opposition to the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza and the heinous Israeli massacres in Rafah.
In its latest report on Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza announced that, since October, the occupation has killed 36,284 people and injured 82,057 as the war nears its eight-month mark.
The largest demonstrations so far were held in Paris on Wednesday, where thousands gathered at Place Saint-Augustin, chanting in solidarity with Gaza, saying, "Gaza…Paris is with you."
Protesters also chanted slogans against French President Emmanuel Macron for his stances on the ongoing war on the Strip.
Last week, a group of activists issued a legal notice urging Coges (anorganizer for events for defense and security) to take steps to prevent the purchase and sale of firearms that may be used in crimes perpetrated in Gaza or other parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.
ASER, Stop Arming Israel, Urgency Palestine, and the France-Palestine Solidarity Association also cautioned against profits from the fair "reinforcing the economic power of firms likely to participate in these crimes."
Coges told AFP that it was "a fair solely for the presentation of defense and security equipment... and in no means a place for deals."
