Israeli weapons display banned at French exhibition
Amid growing condemnations of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, France has banned an Israeli offensive weapons display at the upcoming Eurosatory defence exhibition, according to The New Arab via AFP on June 1st.
Held between June 15th and 19th, Eurosatory is an international defence and security exhibition held at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre.
Israel’s Defence Ministry has protested the restrictions; COGES Events President Charles Beaudouin responded to Israel’s protests by stating that “Only Israeli exhibitors presenting anti-ballistic and anti-air defence systems are authorised.”
Beaudouin added, “This is a decision by the French government, by the Defence Council.”
He continued, “There is no room for ambiguity: if an exhibitor is also a rocket manufacturer, they will not be allowed to display them. This ensures that no offensive weapons are present.”
However, France is one of several European countries to continue arms exports to Israel amid the genocidal war on Gaza.
Since 2023, France allegedly provided arms worth over $8 million, including bombs, grenades and mines.
European nations including Britain, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic and Serbia have also continued exporting arms to Israel despite concerns about complicity in war crimes.
Despite these ties, Israel has vowed to reduce French imports to zero following disputes on several issues, including France’s recognition of a Palestinian state and France obstructing Israeli arms displays at defence exhibitions.
In June 2025, displays by Israeli contractors, including Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael, were obscured by black sheets at the Paris Air Show.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also condemned plans to expand Jewish-only settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Although settlement expansion is illegal under international law, Israel has continued constructing outposts and encouraged Jewish immigration to Israel to maintain a Jewish demographic majority.
In April, Human Rights Watch condemned ongoing arms sales to Israel over concerns about complicity in war crimes amid the war on Gaza, the US-Israeli war on Iran and Israel’s occupation of Lebanon.
Within Europe, Germany is Israel’s second largest arms supplier, accounting for 47% of Israel’s total conventional arms imports since 2023; the US covers the remaining 53%.
Maghrebi contacted Eurosatory for comment on Israel’s ban from the exhibition, but has not received a response at the time of publication.
The New Arab via AFP, Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
