France's Defense Minister disputed charges made by investigative journalists that France supplied parts for weaponry used by the Israeli occupation in its war on Gaza.

According to investigative websites Disclose and Marsactu, Marseille-based business Eurolinks provided "Israel" with M27 links, which are metal parts used to unite rifle cartridges into ammo belts for machine guns.

Such munitions "could have been used against civilians in the Gaza Strip," they said.

The investigative publications' information was substantiated by images showing the linkages, which they claimed were taken on October 23, weeks after the war began.

AFP was unable to confirm the claimed shipment but French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu told reporters in Paris that Eurolinks' export license to Israeli business IMI Systems "only covers re-export to third countries" rather than usage by the IOF.

Left-wingers have urged France to follow Canada's lead and prohibit all arms shipments to the occupation.

In a recent parliamentary session, MP Mathilde Panot, head of the France Unbowed (LFI) opposition party, condemned the shipments as a "massive scandal" and accused Lecornu of "lying".

Last month, the Minister told the National Assembly lower house's defense committee that France's armaments policy toward "Israel" was "irreproachable" with recent exports including "ball bearings, glass, cooling systems," and sensors.

Related News

Aid workers martyred, injured in IOF attack in southern Gaza

UNGA adopts two draft resolutions for ceasefire in Gaza, backs UNRWA

At the time, he claimed they were "planned to be re-exported from Israel to other customers," citing that he ordered civil servants to be "even stricter" examining exports to the occupation since the war began, confirming that France has issued permits for sections of "Israel's" Iron Dome anti-air system.

French citizen's role in Gaza war crimes raises concerns

In a related context, MP Thomas Portes has initiated legal proceedings concerning a Franco-Israeli individual suspected of potential involvement in acts of torture within the Gaza Strip, Mediapart, reported an independent French investigative online newspaper.

This case underscores growing concerns that individuals holding dual nationality and serving in the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) might be implicated in actions constituting war crimes.

The report referred to a widely circulated forty-five-second video depicting five soldiers in Israeli uniforms, with some wearing hoods, humiliating Palestinians. In the video, a French man serving in the Israeli military has released footage showing blindfolded and tied up Palestinians who were abducted by the IOF, while gloating over their torture.

In the video, he is heard cursing at the Palestinian prisoners, using derogatory language, and mocking their torture. He specifically mocked a prisoner who had urinated himself while tied up, laughing at him.

'Israel' fears 'snowball effect' of Western arms embargo after Canada

Canada decided to halt exports of weapons to the Israeli occupation following months of growing public pressure amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

While Canada is not a major arms supplier to "Israel" compared to other countries, the concern is that this move could lead to a larger trend among Western nations who might follow suit, creating a domino effect of countries halting arms sales to the entity, the Israeli Globes website reported.

Fears of a snowball effect that puts greater pressure on Israelis come as the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza revealed on Tuesday that the death toll has now reached 32,414 martyred Palestinians and 74,787 injured in Gaza.

Based on data from the Canadian government, arms exports to the entity amounted to only $15 million in 2022. Over the period from 2019 to 2023, Israeli imports of weapons from Canada accounted for just 0.05% of the occupation's total military imports.

By way of comparison, UK arms exports to "Israel" amounted to $53 million in 2022, while German arms exports reached $35 million in the same year. In contrast, US military aid to the entity in 2022 alone reached $3.3 billion.