Spain bars Israel from 2025 security expo over Gaza, Lebanon genocide

Spain has barred Israeli companies from participating in a defense and security exhibition due to the regime's relentless campaign of death and destruction in the besieged Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

In a statement released on Thursday, Spain's Secretary of State for Defence, Amparo Valcarce said that Israel and its companies are excluded from the International Defense and Security Exhibition (FEINDEF), which is scheduled to be held in Madrid next year.

The decision to exclude Tel Aviv is reportedly due to Israel's atrocities in the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon, 

Amparo in her remarks confirmed that the decision was taken in the light of Spain's commitment to peace in Palestine and Lebanon and adherence to international humanitarian law.

FEINDEF, one of the world's top 10 defense fairs, is expected to host over 400 companies and will take place in Madrid from May 12 to 14.

The developments also come following an incident where international delegates, including Spanish people, were attacked by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank.

The delegation included former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and European Parliament member Jaume Asens, who were accompanying Palestinians harvesting olives when Israeli forces used tear gas on Monday.

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Also on Tuesday, the Spanish government canceled a contract to buy ammunition for its Civil Guard police force from an Israeli company.

“The Spanish government maintains the commitment not to sell weapons to the Israeli state since the armed conflict broke out in the territory of Gaza,” Spain’s Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday.

“Although in this case it is an acquisition of ammunition, the Interior Ministry has initiated the administrative procedure to cancel the purchase,” it added.

Spain’s Civil Guard police force reportedly agreed to purchase over 15 million nine-millimeter rounds for $6.48 million from Guardian LTD Israel.

Spain earlier confirmed that it would stop arms sales to Israel in October 2023 when Israel launched an aggression on the besieged Palestinian territory. 

Palestine last month welcomed a call by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to halt weapons exports to Israel amid its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon.

Spanish Foreign Minister has called on signatories of the Arms Trade Treaty “to act decisively to end Israel's use of arms and military equipment to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, human rights, and against Palestinian civilians."

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According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the US accounted for 70.2% of Israel's conventional arms needs between 2011 and 2020, followed by Germany at 23.9% and Italy at 5.9%.

In April, the US Congress approved $17 billion in aid to Israel as part of a $95 billion foreign military assistance package.

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal aggression in the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 43,000 people, mostly women and children.

The Israeli aggression spread to Lebanon with the regime launching deadly strikes across the Arab country. Tel Aviv expanded the war by launching on Oct. 1 a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

Since October 2023, Israel has killed over 2,700 people in Lebanon. Most of them have lost their lives in the past month amid the intensified airstrikes and a ground offensive. 

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