Spain scraps Israeli ammo purchase following EU condemnation

Spain’s Interior Ministry announced Tuesday that it is canceling a contract to purchase ammunition from an Israeli supplier, expanding its October 2023 pledge to suspend weapons sales to Israel to now include arms acquisitions as well.

According to Cadena Ser radio, the Guardia Civil had initially planned to purchase over 15 million rounds of 9-mm ammunition from Guardian LTD Israel, totaling six million euros (approximately $6.48 million USD). Spain’s arms sale suspension policy, enacted in response to the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, has now led to the cancellation of this purchase as well.

“The Spanish government remains committed to withholding weapons sales to the Israeli state since the conflict began in Gaza,” stated the Interior Ministry. “Even though this transaction involved an acquisition, the Ministry has taken steps to officially cancel the purchase.”

Additionally, the Ministry clarified that Israeli firms are now barred from participating in any active tenders. The original contract, tendered in February, was awarded on October 21, with two of the three lots designated for the Israeli company.