2 weeks Ago By ARA
The Spanish government has formalized the purchase of 15 million bullets for the Civil Guard from an Israeli company, despite its commitment to suspend all commercial relations with companies from that country. As reported by the , the Ministry of the Interior has finally fulfilled the contract worth 6.6 million euros with the company Guardian Defense & Homeland Security SA, following the recommendations of the State's legal counsel, who had warned of the substantial compensation that the State would have had to pay the company if it had breached the contract.
Following Israel's offensive on Gaza, the Spanish government announced that, as of October 7, 2023, no new exports to Israel would be agreed upon. However, purchases continued: on February 23, 2024, the bidding process for these 9x19mm caliber bullets for the Spanish armed institute began. On October 21, 2024, the contract was awarded to the aforementioned Israeli company, and the SER (Spanish National Security Service) reported on this controversial process a few days later.
The Ministry of the Interior responded by announcing that it was initiating the procedure to and pledged not to buy or sell weapons to Israel. This operation is not the only one that contradicts the Spanish government's promise not to trade with the country led by Benjamin Netanyahu. In fact, Guardian Defense & Homeland Security SA is a regular customer, and on January 13, the Civil Guard awarded it the contract to supply spare parts for pistols and rifles.
worth 15,000 euros. Tension within the Spanish government The day after the news was known , about which Sumar has raised objections, Yolanda Díaz's party has been confronted with this news related to the arms trade. The Second Vice President of the Spanish government, Yolanda Díaz, has denounced this as a "flagrant violation of the agreements" adopted not to trade with Israel and has demanded an "immediate rectification.
" Furthermore, Sumar has issued a statement requesting the appearance of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to explain what happened with this award..
