The mounting international condemnation of the civilian suffering caused by Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has sparked a global spotlight on the countries that are the biggest suppliers of funding and arms to Israel’s armed forces.
In the United States, as Israel’s largest military supplier, Democratic lawmakers are increasing pressure on President Biden to condition future military aid on Israel taking more steps to protect Gaza’s civilians. Germany, the second-largest arms supplier to Israel, is currently defending itself at the United Nations’ highest court against allegations that its weapons sales have made it complicit in genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Even countries that provide a smaller portion of aid or weapons to Israel are facing domestic debates and legal challenges over their supplies. Some countries have seen parliamentary votes or court orders putting a halt to exports.
The United States has a long history of providing aid to Israel, primarily in the form of military aid. From 2019 to 2023, the US supplied 69 percent of Israel’s arms imports, totaling $3.8 billion annually. President Biden has been advocating for an additional $14 billion in spending for Israel and US military operations in the Middle East, though approval for the funding remains stalled in Congress.
Germany approved sending military equipment to Israel valued at about $353 million in 2023, making up 30 percent of Israel’s arms purchases from 2019 to 2023. Germany has historically viewed support for Israel as a duty to atone for the Holocaust. In hearings at the International Court of Justice, Germany’s lawyers argued that most of their military exports to Israel were nonlethal, including protective gear and communications equipment.
Other countries, such as Italy and Britain, have also been involved in arms sales to Israel. Italy was the third-largest seller of arms to Israel from 2019 to 2023, while Britain’s defense exports to Israel totaled about $53 million in 2022. Italy’s foreign minister announced a suspension of weapons shipments to Israel in January, while Britain has faced growing pressure from opposition lawmakers to suspend military exports despite maintaining their position based on the “most recent advice” regarding Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
The global scrutiny on countries supplying arms to Israel highlights the complex dynamics at play in the conflict and the growing calls for accountability and responsibility in the face of civilian suffering.
