European nations continue to supply arms to Israel despite ongoing military operations in Gaza and accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France, Italy, Germany, and the U.S. accounted for 81% of arms imports to the Middle East from 2019 to 2023.
Israel’s military spending rose by 24% to 25.25 billion euros ($27.5 billion) after attacks on Gaza, making it the second-largest arms spender in the Middle East.
The European Union granted export licenses to Israel worth about $6.8 billion from 2014 to 2022, contributing to the deaths of over 38,000 civilians in Gaza, including women and children.
While some European countries have halted arms sales to Israel, many continue to supply arms. Germany is Israel’s largest European arms supplier, France supplies components for Israel’s missile defense system, and Italy has sold weapons despite restrictions.
Israel faces international condemnation for its offensive on Gaza, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries. The ICJ has ordered Israel to halt its military operation in Rafah, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.