France authorizes dozens of military component shipments to Israel amid protest campaign

A joint investigation by the Palestinian Youth Movement and Urgence Palestine identified 35 French military-equipment sales to Israel from May to September 2026, including cooling systems for tanks, visor kits for pilots, connectors, surveillance gear and control panels produced by firms such as Thales. All items were slated for subsidiaries of Israel’s Elbit Systems and most were shipped through Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, predominantly on El Al aircraft.

The report follows an earlier April study that documented over 525 shipments between October 2023 and March 2026. French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin reiterated that France does not supply offensive weapons to Israel, asserting the parts are for defensive use. Human-rights lawyer Salah Hammouri and activist Thomas Nayla argue the components are integral to offensive weapons and call for greater oversight and worker resistance. The release coincides with a nationwide protest month organized by trade unions and pro-Palestinian groups.