Germany has put on hold the export of weapons of war to Israel pending legal challenges, a review of Economy Ministry data and a source close to the ministry revealed. The move follows concerns expressed in the past over alleged violations of humanitarian rules.
Over the past two years, Germany approved arms exports to Israel amounting to €326.5 million ($363.5 million). But this year alone, the authorities cleared as little as €14.5 million from January till August 21, 2024. Of that €14.5 million, only €32,449 was for the “weapons of war.”
Legal Hurdles and Official Reaction
For his part, a senior German government official last week confirmed the Economy Ministry had suspended the issuing of new export licenses pending court judgments, including two at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and one brought by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), which claims that Germany’s exports to Israel may breach international humanitarian law.Since the attack of Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, Germany hasn’t issued new licenses to export arms of war to Israel, aside from spare parts to fulfill existing long-term contracts, said a source.
Impact of Gaza Offensive in Israel
The halt in arms exports comes at a time when Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, launched after the October 7 attack, has resulted in wide civilian casualties and displacement. Since the conflict began, over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, claimed Gaza’s Hamas-controlled health ministry, while international organizations have raised concerns over potential violations of humanitarian law.Diverging views within the German government
The controversy surrounding the export of arms to Israel has become an internal battleground within the German government. Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he remains firmly on the side of Israel, though the Greens-led Economy and Foreign ministries have grown increasingly vocal in their criticisms, at least partly in reaction to member feedback from within their ranks.International Opinion of Israel’s Actions
Not the first nor the only country to reconsider exports of arms to Israel. Britain suspended 30 of 350 arms export licences earlier this year amid grave concerns regarding Israeli compliance with the international humanitarian law. The Netherlands also stopped exporting parts of the F-35 jets, while the U.S. temporarily suspended part of its bomb shipments but went ahead with others, saying Israel’s right to defend itself.
Decline in Approvals for 2024
German export approvals substantially were curtailed in 2024 but have been seen as restraint from continuing the deliveries of arms toward Israel in the face of legal challenges. On the other hand, lawyers who work at legal keeping offices, like Alexander Schwarz of ECCHR, who has filed five lawsuits against Berlin, claim that this is not a policy shift but more of a short-term adjustment.
