[News] Europe doubles weapons purchases from Israel despite growing calls to end Gaza genocide

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 Europe doubles weapons purchases from Israel despite growing calls to
end Gaza genocide

Israel's defense industry has increased its profits in recent years,
selling weapons to European countries supporting Ukraine in its war against
Russia

News Desk <https://thecradle.co/authors/news-desk-9>

JUN 5, 2025 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/despite-gaza-backlash-israeli-arms-exports-hit-a-record-148-billion-in-2024-as-europe-boosts-purchases
(Photo credit: Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via
Getty Images)

Israel's defense industry reached a new milestone in 2024, with annual arms
exports surging to a record $14.8 billion, marking the fourth consecutive
year of growth, even as calls for boycotts over the war in Gaza intensified
across Europe.

According to figures released
<https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-arms-sales-break-record-for-4th-year-in-row-reaching-14-8-billion-in-2024/>
on 5 June by Israel's Defense Ministry, arms exports rose 13 percent
compared to 2023, driven largely by European countries increasing defense
budgets in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. Defense exports now account
for nearly 10 percent of all Israeli exports and nearly a quarter of goods
exports.

Despite growing political opposition to Israeli military actions in Gaza,
54 percent of all Israeli defense exports in 2024 were sold to European
countries, up sharply from 35 percent the previous year. Sales to Europe
totaled $8 billion, nearly doubling from 2023, as European governments
rushed to bolster air defense and missile systems amid concerns about a
future war with Russia.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the export boom as “a direct
result of the successes of the IDF and the defense industries against Hamas
in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis [Ansarallah] in Yemen, the
Ayatollah regime in Iran, and in other arenas.”

“The world sees Israeli strength and seeks to be a partner to it,” he
claimed.

Israeli forces have killed over 55,000 Palestinians as part of their
genocide in Gaza, of which at least 80 percent
<https://thecradle.co/articles/israeli-army-admits-civilians-make-up-80-percent-of-those-killed-in-gaza-since-march>are
civilians. *The Economist* recently estimated
<https://www.economist.com/interactive/middle-east-and-africa/2025/05/08/how-many-people-have-died-in-gaza>
the death toll at nearly 110,000 from direct violence alone. Many
Palestinians in Gaza are also dying from the effects of Israel's blockade
of the strip and the destruction of hospitals and other infrastructure.

The Defense Ministry said that air defense systems, missiles, and rockets
made up nearly half (48 percent) of total exports.

These sectors have gained prominence due to Israel's combat performance and
their perceived deterrent value in an era of drone warfare and missile
threats. Systems like Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow have drawn
particular interest due to their defensive orientation, which elicits less
political opposition compared to offensive weapons.

Israeli weapons sales also rose in the Asia-Pacific region and among
Abraham Accords countries. Notably, Israeli defense exports to the UAE,
Bahrain, and Morocco rose from three percent to 12 percent of the total.

Still, political pressure on Israeli defense deals is mounting. On Tuesday,
Spain canceled a $325 million contract with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
for anti-tank missiles, citing concerns over Israeli atrocities in Gaza.

France, in particular, is considering “concrete steps” against Israel over
what President Emmanuel Macron sees as Tel Aviv's obstruction of
humanitarian aid to Gaza. Speaking
<https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkrr2z1xgg> in Paris on Thursday, Macron
said a decision would be made “in the next couple of days.” Alongside him,
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva renewed calls for Palestinian
statehood recognition, adding diplomatic pressure.

Israeli officials remain concerned that future deals, especially with
western Europe, may face legislative hurdles or be delayed. Nonetheless,
officials expect demand to remain strong, especially as Europe boosts
military budgets and reconfigures its defense posture in light of US
President Donald Trump's demands that NATO countries increase defense
spending to five percent of GDP.
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