04.09.2026 11:41
Experts criticize arms sales and new military agreements to Israel, which is accused of genocide, by European countries such as Germany, Greece, and Finland, noting that this carries the risk of complicity in the crime of genocide.
Human rights experts strongly criticized European countries such as Germany, Greece, and Finland for continuing military cooperation with Israel while attacks on Gaza persist. Claudio Francavilla, HRW's representative to the EU, said this cooperation could pose a "risk of complicity in crimes" for states and individuals.
While Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip continue, military agreements between some European countries and the Tel Aviv administration have become a topic of debate.
Claudio Francavilla, representative of Human Rights Watch (HRW) to the European Union, and former HRW Director and Visiting Professor at Princeton University Kenneth Roth assessed the military relations that Germany, Greece, and Finland maintain with Israel.
"THIS POSES A RISK OF COMPLICITY IN THESE CRIMES"
Francavilla argued that plans for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza should be responded to with sanctions, commercial measures, and an arms embargo.
Criticizing the continuation of military cooperation with Israel, Francavilla said, "Continuing military cooperation with Israel amid ongoing atrocities is not only unconscionable but also poses a risk of complicity for the state and individuals in these crimes."
HOLOCAUST CRITICISM TOWARD GERMANY
Kenneth Roth, on the other hand, harshly criticized Israel's policies in Gaza, arguing that forcing Palestinians to leave the region would constitute a war crime and a crime against humanity.
Roth pointed to Germany's historical past and also criticized the Berlin administration's military support for Israel.
Roth said, "This situation shows that the German government has drawn the wrong lessons from the Holocaust," adding that the lesson to be drawn should be the defense of international human rights standards.
APPROVAL OF 800 MILLION EUROS FROM GERMANY
After the German government lifted partial restrictions on arms exports to Israel, it was revealed that it had approved shipments of military equipment worth approximately 800 million euros.
Finland, on the other hand, was reported to have signed a defense cooperation agreement with Israel in 2024 without public announcement and extended the agreement's duration until 2034.
AGREEMENT WORTH 3 BILLION EUROS WITH GREECE
A notable agreement was also signed between Israel and Greece within the scope of military cooperation. A defense agreement for the "Iron Dome" air defense system, worth approximately 3 billion euros, was signed between the defense ministries of the two countries in Tel Aviv.
Experts believe that as the situation in Gaza continues, European countries' continuation of arms trade and military cooperation with Israel could have legal and political consequences.
CASUALTIES IN GAZA ARE INCREASING
According to data announced by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, since the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2025, 1,334 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,400 injured in Israeli attacks.
According to the Ministry's data, the number of deaths in attacks on Gaza since October 2023 has risen to 73,470, and the number of injured has exceeded 174,500.