France bans Israeli firms from exhibiting at upcoming defence fair over Rafah assault

PARIS: France has banned Israeli defense companies from participating in Eurosatory, one of the world's largest arms shows, over Israel's ongoing war in Gaza.

"The conditions are no longer ripe for welcoming Israeli companies to the French show, at a time when the French president [Emmanuel Macron] is calling for an end to Israeli operations in Rafah," an official from the French armed forces ministry said.

"In line with the statements made by the French president, we urgently need a cease-fire to ensure the protection of the people of Gaza, the release of all hostages and full access for humanitarian aid," the French statement added.

Earlier this week, EU leaders — including Macron — condemned an Israeli air attack on refugee tents in Rafah which killed at least 46 Palestinians, including many children.

Overall, at least 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the eight months since October 7, when Israel launched a retaliatory assault on the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel during a violent attack.

Paris' move to ban Israeli companies from Eurosatory, first reported by French newswire Agence France-Presse, is one of the most concrete steps taken by France to show disapproval at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unrelenting war on the coastal enclave.

The arms show will take place from June 17 to 21 in Villepinte, in the Paris region.

In 2022, more than 1,700 exhibitors came from 62 different countries, including 62 percent from outside France. This year, about 2,000 companies registered to Eurosatory overall, including 74 from Israel, according to AFP.