The British newspaper The Guardian published a list of countries that have banned or restricted arms sales to Israel. It was noted that all of them are Western countries.
The newspaper reported that Britain is the latest country to change its position on arms sales to Israel, which has relied on importing weapons from abroad throughout its aggression on the Gaza Strip, which has continued for more than 11 months and has claimed more than 41,000 martyrs.
- The details, according to each country, are as follows: First: Countries that have banned or restricted arms sales:
Britain
Foreign Minister David Lammy announced last Monday that his country had frozen 30 of 350 arms licenses, noting that London had conducted an internal review for two months that revealed that Israel, as an occupying power, had not fulfilled its duty to ensure the delivery of essential supplies necessary for the “life of the people of Gaza.”
The decision, which has been criticised by human rights groups as a partial measure, does not include spare parts for the advanced British-made F-35 jets used by Israel.
Italy
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in January that Rome had decided after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 to stop sending more weapons to Tel Aviv, but that it would respect previously concluded deals.
Spain
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said in January that his country had not sold any weapons to Israel since October 7.
Madrid went further when it announced that it would prevent ships carrying weapons to Israel from docking in Spanish ports.
Canada
Last March, the Canadian Parliament approved, in a non-binding vote, a moratorium on future arms sales to Israel.
Belgium
Belgian local authorities have imposed restrictions on arms sales to Israel, and its government has launched a campaign for an EU-wide ban.
Holland
A Dutch court in February ruled to halt the supply of F-35 spare parts to Israel because they posed a clear risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law. But the ruling did not apply to parts sent to countries such as the United States that then transfer them to Israel.
- Second: Countries that do not prohibit the sale of weapons:
US
The United States and many other countries have traditionally kept their arms trade under wraps, due to controversy at home.
However, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute revealed that Washington is the largest military supporter of Israel, providing it with about 69% of its weapons needs, which it obtains from external sources.
Germany
About 30 percent of global arms exports to Israel come from Germany, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The types of arms exports include portable anti-tank weapons and ammunition for automatic or semi-automatic firearms.
Denmark
Denmark contributes to the F-35 program and is fighting a legal challenge by several rights groups, including Amnesty International, seeking to block arms sales to Israel.
