Slovenia Has Become The First EU Country To Impose An Arms Embargo On Israel Over Its Genocide
The move, announced on Thursday, July 31, will ban Slovenian companies and individuals from importing, exporting and transporting all weapons to and from Israel.
Slovenia has become the first European Union country to impose a weapons embargo on Israel over its genocide in Gaza.
The move, announced on Thursday, July 31, will ban Slovenian companies and individuals from importing, exporting and transporting all weapons to and from Israel.
It comes after prime minister Robert Golob said repeatedly that the country would act unilaterally even if the EU doesn't.
“The EU is currently incapable of completing this task due to internal discord and disunity,” the government said in a press release. “The result thereof is shameful: People in Gaza are dying because they are systematically denied humanitarian aid. They are dying under rubble, without access to drinking water, food and basic health care.”
The statement added that the government had not issued any permits for exporting military weapons and equipment to Israel since October 2023 due to Israel's war.
Slovenia has frequently criticized Israel over its genocide in Gaza during the past 22 months, taking actions to support Palestine.
In June 2024, it followed in the steps of Ireland, Norway and Spain in recognizing the state of Palestine.
Just last month in July, it banned far-right Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country for inciting “extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians” with “genocidal statements.”
Although Slovenia has almost no arms trade with Israel, its move is seen as deeply symbolic in ramping up international pressure on Israel to end its genocide in Gaza, according to AP.
Israel's genocide in Gaza has now killed more than 61,020 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children.
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