Despite long-standing allegations of war crimes in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, public institutions across European Union (EU) countries continue to enter into lucrative contracts with Israeli companies. Data collected by Statewatch and analysis by Al Jazeera reveal that between January 2022 and July 2025, public agencies in EU member states signed at least 194 contracts with Israeli firms, totaling approximately €2.7 billion (about $3.1 billion USD).
According to the report, the actual figure could be even higher, as not all contract details appear in publicly available EU documents. Some contracts were listed with a value of one euro or less—figures the report notes are unrealistic.
**Surge in Contracts Following the Outbreak of War**
Data analysis shows a significant increase in contracts between European public institutions and Israeli companies following the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023. In the 21 months between January 2022 and October 2023, 82 contracts were signed, valued at over €1.2 billion.
In contrast, during the 21 months following the start of the war—from October 2023 to July 2025—112 contracts were signed, with a total value of approximately €1.6 billion.
**Spain’s Major Arms Deal Despite Being a Critic**
Spain, one of Israel’s staunchest critics in Europe, also features on this list. According to the report, Spain signed 14 contracts between January 2022 and July 2025, totaling around €227 million. The largest of these was signed in April 2024, when the Spanish Ministry of Defence contracted Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to purchase an “aerial combat system” worth €207 million.
Additionally, Spanish police forces purchased bulletproof vests from the Israeli company Marom Dolphin.
**Hungary Signs the Most Contracts**
Hungary, known as a close ally of Israel within Europe, has entered into the highest number of contracts. The country has entered into 42 contracts with a total value of approximately €603 million. Meanwhile, neither Sweden—the first Western European nation to recognize Palestine—nor Spain—a long-time supporter of Palestine—has stopped government institutions from purchasing goods and services from Israeli companies.
**Germany’s Major Purchases**
Government agencies in Germany—one of Israel’s key allies—have also purchased various goods and services from Israeli firms, including military equipment, cybersecurity software, laboratory apparatus, and medical equipment. The report identifies 37 contracts between German government bodies and Israeli companies.
However, the financial value of many of these contracts was not disclosed. In some instances, the contract value was listed as merely one euro or one cent—figures the report deems unrealistic.
A spokesperson for Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy stated that, under European Union law, Israeli companies are eligible to participate in public tenders just like companies from other nations.
The spokesperson added that arms export authorizations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with compliance with international humanitarian law being a key consideration.
**Universities, Hospitals, and Police Forces Also Sign Contracts**
Beyond the defense sector, various universities, hospitals, and police agencies have also signed contracts with Israeli firms. In August 2024, Spain’s Polytechnic University of Madrid signed two contracts worth approximately €300,000 with the Israeli company Hecaple to purchase quantum computing equipment.
In April 2024, University Hospital Leuven in Belgium signed a contract worth €1.2 million with GNX Data Systems for genome sequencing software.
Ores, a Belgian energy utility company, signed a contract worth over €3.7 million with the Israeli IT firm SysAid Technologies.
In March 2024, Italy’s Ministry of the Interior signed a contract worth approximately €4 million with the Israeli firm Source Vagabond Systems to purchase bulletproof vests. As of the publication of this report, the relevant ministries in Spain and Germany, as well as the Spanish police force, had not responded to Al Jazeera’s inquiries regarding this matter.
**In conflict with the International Court’s ruling**
Al Jazeera’s report states that this stance by the European Union conflicts with the ongoing case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). A case is currently proceeding at the ICJ against Israel, alleging violations of the Genocide Convention in Gaza.
In a 2024 ruling, the ICJ stated that there is a “real and imminent risk” of irreparable harm to Palestinians and that all states must not, in any way, aid or facilitate Israel’s illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Yousef Al-Tamimi, an assistant professor of law at Central European University in Austria, told Al Jazeera that the European Union’s current policy towards Israel is “not legally sustainable.”
According to him, under the ICJ ruling, all states are obligated to take measures to end the consequences of the illegal occupation in Palestine, and this obligation applies to EU member states as well.
Calls to Suspend EU-Israel Trade Agreement
The European Union is Israel’s largest trading partner; in 2024, the volume of trade in goods between the two sides stood at €42.6 billion.
Analysts believe that if the EU chose to impose economic sanctions, it could significantly impact Israel’s capacity to wage war.
Meanwhile, a review by the European External Action Service—the EU’s diplomatic arm—has stated that Tel Aviv has violated the human rights clauses of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has also remarked that Israeli actions, such as cutting off food and medical aid, have “crossed the limits of self-defense.”
However, no decision has been reached on the matter, as several countries—including Germany and Italy—oppose suspending the agreement.
Multiple organizations, including the human rights group Amnesty International, have called for the suspension of the EU-Israel agreement. Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, stated that suspending the agreement is a legal obligation if its fundamental human rights clauses are violated.
In her words, merely condemning Israel’s illegal actions verbally without taking effective measures undermines international law. Shamefully, the European Union has allowed Israel to continue these violations with effective impunity.
