Spain failed to comply with embargo on arms sales to Israel during Gaza war, report finds
Spain continued to export ammunition to Israel in November, according to a new report, as calls for an end to arms sales to Israel grow across Europe.
Thousands demonstrate against arms sales to Israel in Barcelona (Photo by Robert Bonet/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Despite claims to the contrary, Spain has continued to export ammunition to Israel since the start of the attack on Gaza, a report revealed, sparking outrage in Spanish political circles on Monday.
A report by the Spanish peace organization Center de las per la Pau shows that Spain continued to export 987,000 euros ($1.1 million) worth of ammunition to Israel in November, with 10 This contradicts statements by the Spanish government, which claims it has stopped arms exports to Tel Aviv since March. .
The report, published in Spanish newspapers, led several prominent Spanish politicians to condemn their government. El Diario.
“This is unacceptable and goes against the government’s position. To end the genocide, we declare a formal embargo and insist on severing all military, economic and trade ties with its leaders.” ” wrote Social Affairs Minister Pablo Bastinduy about X.
European countries are under increasing pressure from human rights groups and their own citizens to halt arms sales to Israel, which has been attacking the Gaza Strip using Western-provided weapons since November. Since November, Israeli attacks on Gaza have already killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians, including more than 12,300 children.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday called on countries to take further steps to stop the ongoing massacre of civilians in Gaza, including suspending arms sales.
“If we think too many people are being killed, we will reduce the supply of weapons to prevent so many people from being killed,” Borrell told reporters after a meeting of EU development and aid ministers in Brussels. Maybe we should.”
Borrell made these comments hours after a Dutch court ordered the Dutch government to block all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
The ruling was preceded by a joint statement from 16 international organizations in late January calling on UN member states to halt arms sales to Israel to avoid further loss of life in Gaza. The group included Amnesty International, War Child, Save the Children and Oxfam.
As the Spanish case shows, political commitments to halt arms sales to Israel have not been enforced. Justifying the latest export, Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade said: El Diario It said they “equivalent to licenses granted before October 7.”