German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a information convention after a gathering with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on the chancellery in Berlin, July 29.
Ebrahim Noroozi/AP
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Ebrahim Noroozi/AP
BERLIN — Germany will cease exporting army tools to Israel that might be used within the Gaza Strip, the German authorities’s chief stated, in a swift response to Israel’s choice to develop its operations within the Palestinian territory’s essential metropolis.
“The even tougher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, which was decided last night by the Israeli Security Cabinet, makes it increasingly difficult for the [German] Federal Government to see how these goals can be achieved,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated in an announcement Friday. “Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice.”
Germany provided a 3rd of Israel’s arms imports between 2020 and 2024, second solely to weapons gross sales from america, based on the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute.
Merz’s announcement follows mounting public stress in Germany to reevaluate weapons gross sales, because the United Nations and Palestinian well being authorities report rising civilian causalities and restricted entry to help in Gaza.
Merz referred to as on Israel’s authorities to enhance the humanitarian state of affairs on the bottom in Gaza. “The German government remains deeply concerned about the ongoing suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip,” the assertion stated. “With the planned offensive, the Israeli government bears even greater responsibility than before for providing aid.”
Germany is certainly one of Israel’s closest allies and staunchest defenders inside Europe, which has normally not taken as sturdy a line towards Israeli insurance policies as among the different European Union international locations. Merz typically refers to Germany’s diplomatic help for Israel as its Staatsräson, or “reason of state,” a historic accountability to the existence of Israel due to Germany’s position within the Holocaust. This vow makes Friday’s fast response to the Israeli choice a good larger step for Germany.
The suspension leaves open the potential of continued exports for methods unrelated to Israel’s Gaza offensive, equivalent to missile protection or naval tools.
However Merz additionally warned Israel towards steps towards “annexation of the West Bank,” in an indication that his authorities is monitoring developments past the Gaza Strip.
