The export and use of European dogs as weapons against Palestinian civilians
10.7.2025
Question for written answer E-002814/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Anthony Smith (The Left), Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D)
Israel has been using military dogs during the war in Gaza, approximately 99 % of which have been supplied by European breeders, primarily in the Netherlands and Germany. These dogs, many of which die[1], are used offensively to target and attack Palestinian civilians, often at random, implying human rights violations[2]. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has documented 146 Israeli dog attacks against civilians since October 2023, including fatal attacks.
The Commission allows the export of military dogs to Israel, and under EU regulations, these dogs are not classified as weapons or dual-use items, exempting Member States from the requirement to obtain export licences and keep records.
Will the Commission:
- 1.Investigate this case and acknowledge that these random attacks on civilians constitute human rights violations, such that Israel might not be meeting the conditions of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement?
- 2.Acknowledge that weaponising these dogs and deploying them in war zones contradicts the legal protection afforded to animals as sentient beings?
- 3.Close legislative loopholes by recognising the use of dogs as weapons or dual-use items within legal frameworks governing the weapons trade, as advocated by the UN, and consequently monitor their quantities, intended uses and sources, while stepping up efforts to halt such exports?
Submitted: 10.7.2025