TOKYO, Feb 5 Reuters Itochu Corp39;s aviation unit will end its strategic cooperation with Israeli defence company Elbit Systems Ltd by the end of February over the war in Gaza, the Japanese trading house39;s executive said on Monday.

Itochu Aviation, Elbit Systems and Nippon Aircraft Supply NAS signed the strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding MoU in March 2023.

Itochu plans to end the collaboration after the World Court ordered Israel last month to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians, Itochu Chief Financial Officer Tsuyoshi Hachimura said.

The partnership is based on a request from the Japan39;s defence ministry for the purpose of importing defence equipment for the SelfDefense Forces necessary for Japan39;s security, and is not in any way related to the current conflict between Israel and Palestine, Hachimura told an earnings news conference.

Taking into consideration the International Court of Justice39;s order on January 26, and that the Japanese government supports the role of the Court, we have already suspended new activities related to the MOU, and plan to end the MOU by the end of February, he said.

Itochu reported a 10.3 drop in AprilDecember net profit due to lower prices of coal and pulp as well as smaller gains from energy trading.

It posted a profit of 611.7 billion yen 4.1 billion in the nine months through Dec. 31 compared with 682.2 billion yen a year earlier.

The trading company stuck to its…