Slovenia Becomes First EU Nation to Impose Arms Embargo on Israel

Ljubljana, August 1, 2025 – Slovenia has become the first European Union country to impose a complete ban on the import, export, and transit of weapons to and from Israel, citing the ongoing war in Gaza. The decision, announced by Prime Minister Robert Golob following a government session on Thursday, marks a significant step in Slovenia’s response to the conflict, which has killed over 60,000 Palestinians and drawn accusations of genocide from human rights groups and United Nations experts.

The Slovenian government stated it was acting “independently” due to the EU’s failure to adopt unified measures amid internal disagreements. “Slovenia is the first European country to ban the import, export, and transit of weapons to and from Israel,” the government said, emphasizing its duty to act when “people are dying because humanitarian aid is systematically denied them.” The statement noted that no permits for military exports to Israel have been issued since October 2023 due to the Gaza conflict.