DaysofPal—Slovenia has become the first European Union country to impose a complete ban on the export, import, and transit of weapons and military equipment to and from the Israeli occupation state.
The decision, announced on Thursday, comes amid intensifying international outrage over the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza and the deepening humanitarian crisis that has claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives.
The ban was introduced by Prime Minister Robert Golob and approved during a government session held Thursday morning.
A statement from his office confirmed the prohibition, stating that the decision reflects Slovenia’s protest against the catastrophic conditions in Gaza and its frustration with the European Union’s failure to take decisive action.
“Due to internal division and political paralysis, the European Union is currently unable to fulfill its responsibility to protect human life. Slovenia is stepping forward to act where others have not,” the statement said.
The new policy bars any military equipment from being exported to the Israeli occupation, imported from it, or transported through Slovenian territory.
It marks a significant departure from the EU’s collective stance and highlights growing unease within Europe about Israeli crimes in Gaza.
Earlier in the day, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to formally protest Israeli continued siege on humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The ministry called for an immediate end to the killing and starvation of civilians, urging Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.
This decision follows several bold steps by Slovenia in recent weeks. In early July, the government barred two Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, from entering the country, labeling them as “personae non gratae” due to their extremist rhetoric and incitement to violence against Palestinians.
In June, Slovenia’s parliament formally recognized the State of Palestine, declaring it a “sovereign and independent nation.”
The move was hailed by international human rights organizations and seen as a symbolic step toward increasing pressure on the Israeli occupation to end its occupation and military campaign in Gaza.
Slovenia’s actions also extend into the cultural sphere. Last year, it called for Israel’s exclusion from the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the destruction of UN institutions and targeting of civilians in Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. According to the World Food Program, one in three people in Gaza has gone days without food, and over 75% of the population faces emergency levels of hunger.
Despite aid trucks piling up at Gaza’s borders, the Israeli occupation maintains strict control over access and distribution, often preventing deliveries from reaching civilians.
Supported by the United States, Israel has persisted in a military campaign that many human rights experts and international legal bodies have described as genocidal.
Over 207,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured since October 2023, with the majority being women and children.
More than 9,000 people remain missing, and famine has already claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.
Slovenia’s decision is expected to spark further debate within the European Union, where calls are growing louder for accountability and a unified response to the crisis in Gaza.
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