France reportedly bans Israeli firms from defense trade show in November

By Nur Asena Erturk

Amid a row between the countries’ leaders, France has reportedly banned Israeli companies from next month’s Euronaval defense trade show, according to media outlets.

Sources who asked to remain anonymous told Politico and other media outlets that Israeli delegations will attend the show, but Israeli firms will not be allowed to display their products and equipment.

The alleged ban comes amid a row between French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Several peacekeepers have been injured.

Earlier this month, Macron called for halting arms shipments to Israel over its operations in Gaza and claimed France was not sending weapons to Israel for use in Gaza.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also repeatedly called for halting arms exports to the belligerents in the region, and said it was not coherent to “call for a cease-fire while arming the belligerents.”

Macron on Tuesday reportedly told a Cabinet meeting, “Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a UN decision,” a remark that drew criticism from the Israeli premier.

Israeli companies were also barred from taking part in the International Defense and Security Fair, also known as Eurosatory, held in Paris this June.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas last October.

More than 42,400 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 99,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.