NGOs: Cooperation with Israel Makes Serbia Complicit in Humanitarian Law Violations

Marina Ragus

Arms exports to Israel and continued cooperation with the country’s leadership, despite the position of the International Court of Justice that the risk of genocide in the Gaza Strip is “real and imminent”, had made Serbia complicit in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, several Belgrade-based non-governmental organizations (NGO) said on July 15.

Seven NGOs suggested that Serbia’s support also included continued exports of arms to Israel, despite the warnings of UN experts that such a practice could be in serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, and also pose the risk of complicity in crimes, including genocide.

According to information obtained by weekly Radar, shipments of arms from Serbia to Israel have increased by 1,778 percent over the past 21 months against the same period before Oct. 7, 2023, when Israel launched its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, in response to attacks by Palestinian extremists. 

“Speaking to the Jerusalem Post, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic commented on arms exports to Israel, describing such activities as success,” according to the Humanitarian Law Center, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, the Autonomous Women’s Center, the Youth Center CK13, A11 - Initiative for Economic and Social Rights, Women in Black, and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia.

They added that a conference titled “Belgrade Strategic Dialogue: Serbia-US-Israel Partnership”, had been held at the Serbian Parliament building, in attendance of top Serbian officials - Parliament speaker Ana Brnabic, Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, EU Integration Minister Nemanja Starovic, and Parliament deputy speaker Marina Ragus.