Slovenia has declared a full suspension on the import, export, and transit of weapons to and from Israel, citing Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza.
The move, revealed Thursday night, is described by Slovenia as the “first of its kind by an EU member state.” The country has frequently voiced concerns about alleged human rights abuses in Gaza.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob has repeatedly indicated that Slovenia would take independent action if the European Union failed to agree on a common stance, according to the STA news agency.
“The EU is currently paralyzed by internal disagreements, making joint action impossible,” a government statement said. “The consequences are tragic: people in Gaza are perishing due to a lack of aid, clean water, food, and basic healthcare, often trapped under rubble.”
Although Slovenia has minimal arms dealings with Israel, the embargo is largely symbolic, intended to send a strong diplomatic message amid growing global criticism of Israel’s actions and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Zain Hussain, an arms trade expert at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, described the measure as “symbolic but significant.”
This decision follows additional actions taken by Slovenia’s government, including barring two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country in July, accusing them of promoting violence and making “genocidal” remarks against Palestinians.
Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association, praised Slovenia’s stance, calling it a major step in holding Israel accountable for what he described as the illegal use of foreign weapons against civilians in Gaza.
In June 2024, Slovenia’s parliament officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, joining Ireland, Norway, and Spain in doing so.
Other European countries have also restricted arms transfers to Israel: the UK suspended certain weapons exports last year, and Spain halted arms sales in October 2023. The Netherlands has tightened arms-related controls, while legal challenges are ongoing in France and Belgium. However, Slovenia is the only one to impose a total ban on both trade and transit of weapons to and from Israel.