Europe's Double Standards: Decrying Gaza Genocide While Pouring Rp56 Trillion into Israel

Public bodies in European Union (EU) countries have continued to engage in business cooperation worth billions of euros with Israeli companies, despite the country facing accusations of violating international law and alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip. The findings were revealed in a Statewatch analysis published by Al Jazeera, based on EU procurement contract data. Yussef Al Tamimi, an assistant professor in the Department of Legal Studies at Central European University, Vienna, assessed that the EU’s approach to Israel is difficult to justify legally. According to him, the International Court of Justice has established a clear obligation for all states to take steps to eliminate, reduce, and remedy the illegal occupation of Palestine. He added that the ruling is binding on all EU member states under international law.

Data shows that between January 2022 and July 2025, public bodies in EU member states signed 194 contracts with Israeli companies worth nearly €2.7 billion, or approximately Rp56.13 trillion. The actual value is estimated to be even higher because some contracts do not disclose the true value in public EU documents. Procurement activity actually increased after the Gaza war broke out in October 2023. In the 21 months before the conflict, 82 contracts were recorded, worth more than €1.2 billion. In the 21 months after the war began, the number jumped to 112 contracts worth around €1.6 billion.

Spain is one of the countries highlighted. Despite being known for its vocal criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the country still approved 14 contracts worth nearly €227 million. Most of these stemmed from a Spanish Ministry of Defence contract with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in April 2024 for the procurement of air combat systems. The Spanish police also purchased bulletproof vests from the Israeli company Marom Dolphin. Beyond Spain, Hungary holds the largest contract value, with 42 contracts worth almost €603 million. Germany has at least 37 contracts with Israeli companies for the procurement of military equipment, cyber security software, laboratory equipment, and medical devices, though several German contracts did not disclose detailed transaction values. A spokesperson for the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy asserted that Israeli companies can participate in government tenders in accordance with EU procurement rules. The German government also stated that every arms export licence is decided on a case-by-case basis, considering foreign policy, security, and compliance with international humanitarian law.

Contracts with Israeli companies were also carried out by various universities, hospitals, police forces, and utility companies across Europe. These include the Polytechnic University of Madrid purchasing quantum computing equipment, the University Hospital of Leuven in Belgium procuring genome sequencing software, and the Italian Ministry of the Interior buying bulletproof vests from an Israeli company. Economic relations between the EU and Israel remain strong. In 2024, the value of goods trade between the two parties reached €42.6 billion. Israel also has access to various EU funding programmes, including the €95.5 billion Horizon Europe programme, and received research grants totalling more than €1.11 billion between 2021 and 2024. Amnesty International urged the EU to immediately suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Eve Geddie, Director of the Amnesty International European Institutions Office, said verbal condemnation alone is not enough. “It is shameful that the EU has allowed and enabled Israel to continue its violations with complete impunity,” she told Al Jazeera. According to her, the failure to take concrete steps erodes the credibility of international law and the EU’s commitment to protecting human rights.