Germany, UK under scrutiny for continuing arms support to Israel amid genocide prosecution

By Salih Okuroglu

Although the US has traditionally been Israel's largest arms supplier, Germany and the UK have also been providing significant support to Israel for many years.

Israel, which is being prosecuted for genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), targeted South Africa for seeking measures against Tel Aviv. The cost of the Gaza attacks to Israel could reach $400 billion.

According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US supplied 70.2% of Israel's conventional arms procurement from 2011 to 2020. Germany followed with 23.9%, and Italy with 5.9%.

According to the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), a civil society organization, Germany and the UK do not transparently share arms delivery data.

However, according to the database compiled by the organization from open sources, the German government approved at least €1.4 billion ($1.5) worth of arms sales to Israel from 2015 to 2020, while the UK exported military equipment totaling €426 million to Israel during the same period, including components for warplanes, missiles, tanks, small arms and ammunition.

The figures do not include arms produced in Germany and the UK that are exported to Israel through third countries.

- Germany's arms sales to Israel in 2023 increased tenfold

According to the "2023 Federal Government Arms Export Policy" report from the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the country's arms and military equipment sales to Israel reached €326.5 million last year, a tenfold increase from 2022.

In the first few weeks after the start of Israel's attacks on Gaza, the German government approved 185 additional export license applications related to arms supplies from Israel.

While Germany has mainly approved the shipment of armored vehicles and protective equipment for soldiers to Israel, a report in Spiegel magazine on Jan. 17 stated that the government is reviewing and planning to approve the shipment of sensitive tank ammunition requested by Israel.

The report noted that in November, the Israeli government requested approximately 10,120 millimeters of tank ammunition from Germany, and it was discussed with great secrecy by the Prime Ministry and the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Economy.

- England, Israel's traditional supplier

According to CAAT data, England supplies approximately 15% of the components used in the F-35s employed in Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The F-35 project involves six different British companies, two of which sell rockets to Israel. Some companies, such as the Israeli defense industry firm Elbit, also hold licenses for trading military equipment in England.

The Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and the London-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) initiated legal proceedings against the UK in the High Court on Dec. 13, accusing it of disregarding demands to suspend arms sales to Israel, which violate international law and regulations.

Palestinian supporters gathered outside the London office of BAE Systems, one of the world's largest arms producers, calling on the company to end arms sales to Israel.

- Italy's weapons tested in Gaza

The loss of tens of thousands of lives in Israel's massacre in Gaza has sparked reactions in Italy.

Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S) opposition party and former prime minister, urged his government on Nov. 16 to immediately suspend arms supplies to Israel.

Elly Schlein, leader of the opposition Democratic Party (PD), demanded that the government halt arms sales to Israel on Jan. 20, stating that it cannot risk the use of Italian-supplied ammunition in a manner that could be considered a war crime.

Following increased criticism, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced Jan. 20 that Italy decided to stop sending arms to Israel as of Oct. 7 and emphasized that it had not sent any type of weapon.

But Italian-made weapons previously supplied to Israel are already being tested by Israel in Gaza.

The 76mm naval gun produced by the Italian defense company Leonardo's subsidiary Oto Melara was used for the first time by Israel in Gaza.

- Spain declares suspension of sales

Centro Delas, a Spain-based organization focusing on international peace studies, revealed that a Spanish company sold military equipment to Israel for €987,000 ($1 million) in November by examining Spain's foreign trade data.

Following the development, which resonated with the Spanish public amid intense reactions to Israel's massacres in Gaza, Spain's government spokesperson and Education Minister Pilar Alegria said no military equipment had been sold to Israel since its attacks on Gaza began Oct. 7, emphasizing that the data pertains to before that date.

- France provides intelligence support to Israel

According to data from the French Ministry of Defense, France made approximately €200 million ($215 million) in arms sales to Israel from 2013 to 2022.

Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, when asked on Oct. 16 if France provided military support to Israel, said it "mostly provides intelligence support to Israel."

Activists demonstrating in front of the headquarters of the French defense industry company, Dassault Aviation, argued that "all French companies selling weapons to the Tel Aviv administration are complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza."

Lawmakers from the opposition Unbowed France (LFI) party, said Feb. 14 that France should not be complicit in the genocide committed by Israel, and initiated a signature campaign to halt arms sales to Israel, which led to the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

Christophe Lemoine, spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to Anadolu's question about France planning to temporarily suspend arms shipments to Israel after the ICJ's decision.

"We have taken note of South Africa's new request for provisional measures related to the ICJ. This request is part of the process leading to the indictment accepted by the court on January 26.

"The (provisional) measures requested by the court are legally binding and mandatory for all parties, and must be implemented, also in line with France's stated desires. We are committed to respecting international law and reiterate our support and confidence in the ICJ," he said.

When the question was repeated a second time, Lemoine said, "I can answer you later on this matter."

-Borrell's message concerns Germany

Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, urged countries expressing concern about civilian casualties in Gaza to halt arms exports to Israel on Feb. 12.

Borrell's message directly concerned Germany due to the UK not being a EU member and Italy and Spain halting arms supplies to Israel.