Amnesty International has condemned Slovenia for allowing the transport of a military cargo to Israel, even though the country had imposed a ban on the export and import of weapons to this country. As foreign media reports, the company AE Electronics, part of Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems, used the Slovenian port of Koper to ship weapons and electrical equipment to Israel on August 7, just days after the ban was announced on July 31. Slovenian authorities said the ship had announced its departure before the official decision, while Amnesty considers this case very worrying.
“The permission to transfer weapons to Israel, including the transport by ship carrying explosives and weapons, is a clear violation of Slovenia’s obligations under international law and the Geneva Conventions,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty’s Director of Research and Policy. “There is a real risk that these weapons could be used for war crimes and genocide.”
Under international law, no state should transfer weapons to a conflict where there is a clear risk that they will contribute to violations of international humanitarian law. Amnesty also recalls that the Israeli military has used explosive weapons against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including a bomb manufactured by IMI, an Elbit company, which killed nine civilians, including six children, on 19 April 2024. The organization calls on all states to immediately stop transferring weapons to Israel and to prosecute those who violate this ban. Amnesty also emphasizes that arms manufacturing and exporting companies must respect human rights and international humanitarian law, regardless of national laws.