France refutes allegations of providing arms in Gaza conflict

On Tuesday, France’s defense minister refuted claims made by investigative journalists suggesting that France had supplied components for ammunition used during the Israeli army’s Gaza campaign.

Investigative websites Disclose and Marsactu have reported that Marseille-based company Eurolinks had supplied Israel with M27 links, which are metal components used to connect rifle cartridges and create ammunition belts for machine guns.

They alleged that the ammunition in question could have been utilized against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

The investigative outlets’ reporting was supported by photos of the links which they said were taken on October 23, weeks after Hamas’ bloody October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the intense Gaza fighting.

AFP was unable to verify the reported shipment.

But Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu told reporters in Paris that Eurolinks’ license to export to Israeli firm IMI Systems “only covers re-export to third countries” rather than use by the Israeli army.

Left-wingers have called for France to follow Canada’s example and stop all arms exports to Israel.

MP Mathilde Panot, a leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) opposition party, described the exports as a “massive scandal”, accusing Lecornu of “lying” in a recent parliamentary hearing.

The minister told the National Assembly lower house’s defence committee last month that France’s policy on arms for Israel was “irreproachable”, with recent deliveries covering items like “ball bearings, glass, cooling systems” and sensors.

“In general, these are arms planned to be re-exported from Israel to other customers,” he added at the time.

Lecornu said he had ordered civil servants to be “even stricter” in examining exports to Israel since October 7.

France did issue licenses for parts for Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defence system, he acknowledged.