Watan-Despite the genocide crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the people of Gaza since October 7th last year, some countries continue to export weapons to the occupying state without any humanitarian or ethical deterrent and without respect for international laws and agreements, including the 1948 Convention on Genocide and the Arms Trade Treaty.

The French newspaper “La Croix” published a report stating that some countries have declared suspensions of weapon exports to Israel, while France, whose contracts with Israelis remain modest, refuses to take this symbolic step.

According to the source, two international players play a major role in Israeli arms imports: the United States and Germany.

The United States alone accounted for 68% of arms exports to Israel between 2013 and 2022, according to incomplete data from the Swedish research institute SIPRI. During the same period, Germany provided 28% of Israeli purchases abroad.

Israel’s imports are partially financed by the $3.3 billion military aid provided annually by the United States and $500 million from Washington for missile defense cooperation.

The report adds that besides supplying F-35 fighters, American assistance is also crucial concerning the shells and bombs consumed at a high rate since the invasion of Gaza.

A French military source estimates that “the Israelis have a stockpile sufficient for one month.” Meanwhile, Germany delivered equipment worth €326 million in 2023, mostly armored personnel carriers and other protective gear, much of which was acquired after the conflict began on October 7th.

The report further states that in stark contrast to the United States and Germany, Italy regularly appeared as the third-largest supplier to the occupying army.

In January, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Italy had halted all arms shipments to Israel since October 7th.

Canada, which previously limited sales to non-lethal equipment, announced freezing any new contracts with Israel starting January 8th, a decision reaffirmed in March during a non-binding vote in Parliament.

Netherlands, Japan, Spain, and Belgium also announced a complete or partial halt to arms exports to Israel.

Does France supply weapons to Israel?

Israel is considered a small client to France, which voluntarily restricted its export policy towards this country. In 2022, military equipment sales amounted to €25 million, less than 0.5% of total French exports, according to a parliamentary report.

However, a recent investigation published by Disclosure has put things into chaos. The website revealed that following the Israeli invasion of Gaza, French authorities allowed the export of at least 100,000 essential spare parts for manufacturing machine gun cartridges.

According to Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the license for these metal parts sent by Eurolinks to the Israeli group IMI Systems is restricted solely to “re-export to third countries.”

In other words, the Israeli army cannot use them. At present, suspending these sales is not being considered.

Nevertheless, France, along with Germany, Italy, and Canada, is one of the main arms-exporting countries to Israel.