Spanish court probes steelmaker over alleged exports to Israeli weapons industry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) — A Spanish court has opened an investigation into the president of steel manufacturer Sidenor and two senior executives over the alleged illegal export of steel to Israel for weapons production.

Judge Francisco de Jorge of Spain’s Audiencia Nacional placed Sidenor President José Antonio Jainaga Gómez and two other company leaders under formal investigation for suspected smuggling and complicity in crimes against humanity or genocide.

According to the court statement, the probe focuses on shipments of steel to Israel Military Industries (IMI) Systems that were allegedly carried out with knowledge that the materials would be used to produce arms.

In his ruling, the judge cited Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “public knowledge” and referenced reports by global media, statements by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), as well as preliminary assessments by the International Criminal Court.

The court is also examining whether Sidenor failed to obtain mandatory government authorization for the exports. Clerbil, the sole administrator of Sidenor Holdings Europa, has also been named as a potentially liable party.

Earlier this year, Sidenor announced it would suspend all trade with Israel after Irish outlet The Ditch reported that the company had shipped more than 1,200 tons of steel bars to IMI Systems over a 10-month period starting in August 2024.

Spain’s government has said it halted all arms trade with Israel since the start of its onslaught in Gaza and recently passed legislation to make the embargo permanent.