Slovenia Becomes First EU Country to Impose Arms Embargo on Israel

Melbourne, August 4 — Slovenia has become the first EU member state to impose an arms embargo on Israel in response to its human rights violations in Gaza.

According to Middle East Eye, the decision came on Thursday following an initiative by Prime Minister Robert Golob.

In an official statement, the Slovenian government said:

“At the Prime Minister’s initiative, the government has approved a decision banning the export, import, and transit of military weapons and equipment from Slovenia to Israel, from Israel to Slovenia, and through Slovenian territory.”

This decision was announced following a cabinet meeting.

Golob stated that Slovenia is the first EU country to take such action.

Two weeks earlier, Slovenia had taken another unprecedented step by declaring Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich persona non grata for their genocidal rhetoric.

In June 2024, Slovenia followed Norway, Spain, and Ireland in recognizing Palestine as an independent state. The country has been one of the most vocal European critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza. President Nataša Pirc Musar has directly labeled the Israeli assault as “genocide.”

In mid-July, the 27 EU foreign ministers failed to reach consensus on suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs trade and political relations. They also could not agree on nine other proposed actions based on Israel’s alleged human rights violations.

Potential measures under consideration included:

• Full suspension of the EU-Israel agreement

• Revocation of special trade privileges

• Arms embargo

• Sanctions on Israeli ministers

• Ban on trade with settlements in occupied Palestinian territory

Golob had previously warned that if the EU failed to take effective action against Israel by July 15, Slovenia would act unilaterally.

He stated:

“People in Gaza are dying because humanitarian aid is being deliberately denied. They are dying under rubble, without water, food, or basic medical care. This is a clear example of the denial of humanitarian access and the intentional obstruction of basic conditions for survival. In such a situation, it is the duty of every responsible state to take action—even if others haven’t yet.”

The Slovenian government added that further measures against Israel will be introduced in the coming weeks in response to “grave violations of international humanitarian law.”

Growing Pressure from Other Countries

On Thursday, Sweden and the Netherlands called on the EU to suspend its trade agreement with Israel due to the blockade of Gaza and the obstruction of UN humanitarian aid efforts.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said:

“The situation in Gaza is dire. Israel has failed in its responsibility to provide humanitarian aid. Sweden wants the EU to suspend the trade portion of its cooperation agreement with Israel as soon as possible.”

He added:

“Economic pressure must be increased on Israel. Humanitarian access to Gaza must be guaranteed.”

Two days earlier, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp made a similar call, saying:

“If humanitarian access in Gaza is not improved, the commercial part of the cooperation agreement should be suspended.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated:

“We passed 18 sanctions packages against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. Yet we can’t suspend even one agreement when Israel openly violates human rights? This is double standards.”

Since February 2024, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands have led efforts within the EU to reassess its agreement with Israel.