Slovenia has become the first European Union member state to impose a full arms embargo on Israel, citing concerns over the ongoing war in Gaza.
The decision, announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob following a government session on Thursday, includes a ban on the import, export, and transit of weapons to and from Israel.
A government statement said the measure was taken unilaterally due to the EU’s inability to reach a consensus on concrete action.
“In the face of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where aid is systematically blocked and people are dying, it is the duty of every responsible state to act—even if that means going ahead alone,” the statement read.
Slovenia clarified that it has not issued any arms export licenses to Israel since October 2023, when the conflict escalated.
The embargo follows a series of diplomatic moves by the country against Israel. In early July, Slovenia barred entry to two far-right Israeli ministers, labeling them "persona non grata" for inciting extreme violence and promoting human rights violations against Palestinians.
In June, Slovenia’s parliament formally recognized Palestinian statehood, joining Ireland, Norway, and Spain in similar declarations that were, in part, a response to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began nearly 22 months ago, according to rights groups and UN experts, who have drawn comparisons to genocide. Thousands more face the threat of starvation due to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Multiple countries, including South Africa, have brought cases against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide. Despite global criticism, the United States has remained a firm ally of Israel.
Former US President Donald Trump recently warned that recognizing Palestinian statehood would amount to rewarding Hamas for its October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli territory.
