5 Countries Halt Weapon Exports to Israel after ICJ Genocide Ruling

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several nations halted their weapons exports to Israel in the wake of the escalation of military operations in Gaza. This comes after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel could be committing genocide last January.

Citing Al Arabiya, here is a list of five countries that have paused their exports of arms to Israel:

1. Italy

Italy’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said last month that the country had blocked all arms exports to Israel as soon as the attacks on Gaza started.

“Since October 7, we decided not to send any more arms to Israel, so there is no need to discuss this point,” Tajani said, according to a report from Italian news agency ANSA.

His comments reportedly came in response to opposition lawmaker Elly Schlein’s statement that Italy must stop all arms exports to the Middle East, particularly to Israel.

2. Netherlands

A Dutch court on Monday banned the Netherlands from exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel over concerns that they were being used in violation of international law during Israel’s attack on Gaza.

The fighter jet parts are owned by the US but stored in a warehouse in the Netherlands under bilateral agreements. They were exported to multiple countries, including Israel.

3. Japan

Japanese company Itochu Corporation announced last week that it will end its partnership with Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems by the end of this month.

Itochu plans to end the collaboration after the ICJ ordered Israel last month to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians, according to Itochu Chief Financial Officer Tsuyoshi Hachimura.

“The partnership is based on a request from Japan’s Defense Ministry for the purpose of importing defense equipment for the Self-Defense Forces necessary for Japan’s security and is not in any way related to the current conflict between Israel and Palestine,” Hachimura said in a press conference.

“Taking into consideration the ICJ’s order on January 26, and that the Japanese government supports the role of the Court, we have already suspended new activities related to the MOU, and plan to end the MOU by the end of February,” he said.

4. Spain

Spain has suspended all arms export licenses to Israel, the country’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said in an interview last week. “[October 7] made us realize the importance of a just and permanent solution for the Palestinian people,” Albares said.

Spain has also continued its support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), when several countries, including the US and the UK, have suspended funding to the UN agency after Israel accused its employees of being involved in the Oct. 7 attack.

The Spanish foreign minister has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, urging all parties to comply with the orders of the ICJ and emphasizing a two-state solution to end the conflict.

5. Belgium

The local government of Walloon region, Belgium, announced last week it had suspended licenses to export munitions, specifically gunpowder, to Israel after the ICJ ruled against it, according to reports from local media outlet De Morgan.

“The January 26 order of the ICJ, the main judicial organ of the United Nations, as well as the unacceptable deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, led the Minister-President to temporarily suspend the valid licenses”, Minister of Housing Christophe Collignon was quoted.

AL ARABIYA

Editor's Choice: UN Reports Israel Attacks Training Center in Gaza's Khan Younis; Israel Denies Responsibility

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News