The French government has banned Israeli companies from participating in annual arms and defence industry exhibition near Paris. The ban is a response to Israel’s ongoing invasion of Rafah. The event was scheduled for June.
According to reports, France has prohibited Israeli companies from taking part in the exhibition. The event’s organizers and French authorities have confirmed this decision. The organizer, Coges Events, stated, “By decision of the government authorities, there will be no stand for the Israeli defense industry at the Eurosatory 2024 fair.” The French Defense Ministry cited Paris’s opposition to Israel’s assault on Rafah as the reason for the ban.
When the White House expressed concerns over the violence in Rafah, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, also criticized Israel’s actions and called for an immediate ceasefire. The French ministry stated that the decision to ban Israeli companies from the exhibition is in line with the President’s call for Israel to cease operations in Rafah.
Seventy-four Israeli firms were expected to attend the event, with around 10 of them planning to exhibit weapons. Activist groups, including ASER, Stop Arming Israel, Urgency Palestine, and the France-Palestine Solidarity Association, warned against the participation of firms that could be involved in “crimes” committed in Gaza or other occupied Palestinian territories.
The organizer, Coges, clarified that the fair is solely for the presentation of defense and security equipment and not for conducting deals. Israel’s bombing of a camp for displaced people in Rafah triggered international outrage and protests. Israel’s offensive in Rafah has led to the displacement of approximately one million people from the city.
Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to halt its attacks on Rafah. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with at least 36,284 Palestinians killed and 82,057 wounded since October 7. (By Rana Kashif)
