Barcelona Endorses Calls for Military Embargo Against Israel

Barcelona joined other European cities in endorsing Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ call for an arms embargo on Israel after the murderous attack on Palestinian protesters in Gaza over the past few months.

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On May 25, the City Council of Barcelona called for a comprehensive military embargo on Israel and demanded the Spanish government ensures its implementation.

In the resolution the City Council condemned the murder of “110 peaceful Palestinian protesters in the occupied Gaza Strip,” and urged Israel and Egypt to allow the free movement of Palestinians living in Gaza, who have endured an illegal Israeli blockade for over 10 years.

It also supports the United Nations Human Rights Council’s decision to launch an investigation into the Gaza killings, criticized the United States’ decision to move its embassy to the occupied city of Jerusalem, and called on Israel to free the hundred of Palestinian children currently in Israeli prisons.    

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Earlier in May, the City Council of Bologna, Italy’s seventh largest city, approved a motion urging the Italian government and European institutions to “commit to suspending supplies of weapons and military equipment as called for by Amnesty International.”

The U.N. Human Rights Council also approved a call for an arms embargo on Israel in late March.

According to the Italian Disarmament Network, in 2014, Italy was the European Union’s leading arms exporter to Israel and maintains strong collaboration on military research and intelligence activities.  

Bologna joined the City Council of Pisa and Florence which had previously approved calls to "end all military relations, sales and trade of war material with the state of Israel."

Florence was the first Italian city to do so. In 2017 its City Council unanimously voted to call on the Italian government and the EU to end cooperation with the Israeli military and illegal settlements.

The international campaign for a military embargo against Israel was launched by the BDS movement to pressure Israel into complying with international law and respect Palestinians’ human rights.