Belgrade – Saba:
The Slovenian government has imposed a ban on the import of goods produced in Palestinian territories occupied by "Israel" and approved an additional aid package for Palestinians in Gaza.
In a statement published on the government’s official website on Wednesday, it confirmed:
“Today, we banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, as well as any circumvention of restrictions imposed on such imports.”
The government also instructed relevant ministries to examine the possibility of banning exports from Slovenia destined for these Israeli-occupied areas.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, in remarks carried by the Slovenian News Agency, said:
“The actions of the Israeli government — including the construction of illegal settlements, land seizures, forced displacement of Palestinians, and the destruction of their homes — represent serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law.”
He added:“These acts not only endanger the lives and dignity of the Palestinian people but also threaten the very foundations of the international order.”
On July 31, Slovenia had announced it would ban all arms-related trade with the occupying entity in response to its assault on Gaza — a move described as the first of its kind by a European Union member state.
The Slovenian government further stated that it had adopted a decision, at the initiative of Prime Minister Golob, to prohibit the export and transit of arms and military equipment from or through Slovenia to "Israel," as well as imports from "Israel" into Slovenia.
The statement emphasized:“This decision follows through on Golob’s repeated pledges — most recently at the EU Council summit in June — that if the European Union failed to take concrete action by mid-July, Slovenia would act independently.”
It continued:“Due to internal divisions and lack of unity, the European Union is currently unable to fulfill this role.”
The statement concluded with a strong humanitarian message:“People in Gaza are dying because humanitarian aid is being systematically blocked. They are dying under rubble, without access to clean water, food, or basic medical care. This is a total obstruction of humanitarian relief and a deliberate denial of minimum survival conditions. In such circumstances, every responsible state has a duty to act — even if it must lead the way.”
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