Israel is losing EU support fast as one country stops weapons trade amid Gaza war

Slovenia has become the first country in the European Union to fully ban all weapons trade with Israel. This is a decision driven by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This ban also stops any weapons from passing through Slovenian territory on their way to or from Israel.

The government in Ljubljana stated that this move was made on its own, as the EU has been unable to agree on a united response to Israel due to disagreements among member states. According to Politico, the Slovenian government’s announcement stressed, “People in Gaza are dying because humanitarian aid is being systematically blocked. In such circumstances, it is the duty of every responsible country to take action, even if this means taking a step ahead of others.”

Slovenia has positioned itself as one of Europe’s strongest critics of Israel. This weapons ban is not the first time it has acted independently. Earlier, it became the first EU nation to block two far-right Israeli ministers from entering its territory. The Netherlands later took similar action, showing a slow but noticeable change in how some European countries view Israel.

Israel is slowly losing the support of EU allies

Slovenia’s decision is seen as mostly symbolic in terms of real-world impact. Since October 2023, the country has not approved any military exports to Israel. An Israeli official pointed out that their country does not buy any military equipment from Slovenia.

This shows that while the ban is politically significant as a standalone statement, it does not actually disrupt the supply of weapons to Israel. Still, it is a bold diplomatic step and a clear way for Slovenia to express its stance on the conflict.

The recent measures by Slovenia and the Netherlands are part of a larger decline in support for Israel across Europe, even among its usual allies. This shift is mainly due to the ongoing difficulties in getting humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza during military operations. Israel’s closest partners in the international community have grown increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation.

In a notable sign of changing diplomatic attitudes, countries like France, Canada, and the United Kingdom have recently promised to recognize a Palestinian state. These announcements, along with strong criticism of Israel from these nations, show growing global pressure on Israel to improve the humanitarian crisis and rethink its strategy. The overall trend suggests a major reassessment of long-held foreign policies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The countries are clearly focused on humanitarian needs and support for a two-state solution.