Which Western states recognize Palestine yet still arm 'Israel'?
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Several Western states that recently recognized Palestine continue supplying arms to "Israel," exposing a gap between symbolic diplomacy and complicity in genocide.
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A "fearless girl" statue is seen with a t-shirt reading "Stop Arming Israel" while demonstrators protesting Israel's war against Hamas occupy an area outside the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
The Intercept on Friday reported that Western governments applauding their new recognition of Palestine are all too comfortable continuing to arm "Israel" amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
On the eve of the United Nations General Assembly's 80th session, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia extended recognition to Palestine, followed by France and Luxembourg at the opening of the gathering.
French President Emmanuel Macron told world leaders, "The time for peace has come because we're just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a recorded address, said, "In the face of growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace."
Yet these pledges coincide with continued arms transfers to "Israel," which has intensified its war on Gaza and expanded settlement activity in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the statehood recognitions outright, declaring, "There will not be a Palestinian state west of the Jordan."
Complicity Through Arms
A UN commission of inquiry last week found "Israel" responsible for genocide in Gaza. Its chair, Navi Pillay, said that the international community carries the "legal obligation to use all means that are reasonably available to them to stop the genocide in Gaza." She warned, "The absence of action to stop it amounts to complicity."
Reports show that despite partial embargoes or public statements suggesting otherwise, countries such as the UK, Canada, and France have allowed the shipment of F-35 fighter jet parts, explosives, and other military goods to "Israel" over the past two years. Australia and Luxembourg insist their exports are limited to defensive systems, but critics argue these still enable "Israel's" ongoing war.
Some European states have broken from this pattern. Spain imposed a sweeping arms embargo earlier this week, halting all weapons and dual-use exports, while Belgium and Norway have also taken steps to restrict or divest from Israeli-linked military programs.
Read more: Danish pension fund divests from 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Other Western powers add to the hypocrisy. The Netherlands has faced legal battles over continued F-35 parts shipments despite public opposition. Italy has continued to supply ammunition. Germany, for years one of "Israel's" main arms suppliers, has only recently begun restricting exports in light of mounting global outrage. Australia's role in manufacturing F-35 parts keeps it deeply implicated, even while its leaders insist they are not arming "Israel."
Symbolism Without Action
Nancy Okail of the Center for International Policy welcomed the symbolic recognition of Palestinian statehood but warned that governments risk widening an "accountability gap" if they continue supplying arms: "Such recognition of Palestinian statehood is largely symbolic unless it's paired with halting arms transfers that actually fuels the genocide, otherwise, that would be like a performance of justice while complicit in violence."
Amnesty International has called for a full arms embargo on "Israel," including surveillance technology and military training cooperation. Advocacy director Elizabeth Rghebi said governments must match words with deeds: "If governments want to put meaning behind these gestures or words of condemnation, then these are the type of actions that need to be taken."
