Spain cancels €700 million arms deal with Israel over Gaza conflict

Spain has canceled a contract worth nearly 700 million euros ($825 million) for Israeli-designed rocket launchers, according to an official document obtained by AFP on Monday. This decision follows an announcement by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez last week, stating that his government would “consolidate in law” a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel due to its offensive in Gaza.

The contract, awarded to a consortium of Spanish companies in October 2023, involved the procurement of 12 SILAM rocket launcher systems, which are derived from the PULS platform manufactured by Israeli firm Elbit Systems. The SILAM launch system is capable of firing various rockets with a range of up to 300 kilometers (approximately 186 miles).

This cancellation reflects the ongoing backlash against Israel"s military actions in Gaza and marks a significant shift in Spain"s defense procurement strategy.

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