Germany has halted new weapons exports to Israel, but why?

Germany has temporarily halted new arms exports to Israel amid legal challenges over concerns the shipments may breach humanitarian law, Reuters reported, citing their data analysis and confirmation from a source close to the Economy Ministry.

Last year, Germany approved arms exports to Israel worth 326.5 million euros ($363.5 million), a tenfold increase from 2022, according to Economy Ministry data. However, approvals have dropped significantly this year, with only 14.5 million euros’ worth of exports authorised between January and August 21. Of that, just 32,449 euros were in the “weapons of war” category.

Reuters quoted a source close to the ministry as saying that a senior government official confirmed that work on approving new arms export licenses to Israel has been suspended until legal cases are resolved.

Legal hurdles

These cases argue that Germany’s arms exports to Israel violate humanitarian law.

In defending two ongoing cases, one before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and another in Berlin brought by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the German government has stated that no weapons of war have been exported since the October 7 Hamas attacks, aside from spare parts for long-term contracts, the source added.

Israel’s military operations in Gaza since the October 7 attacks have killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and led to genocide allegations at the ICJ, which Israel denies.

While no legal challenges to German arms exports to Israel have succeeded, friction within Germany’s government is growing. The Chancellery remains supportive of Israel, but the Greens-led Economy and Foreign ministries have become increasingly critical of Israel’s policies.

Multiple roadblocks to arms exports to Israel

Elsewhere in Europe, legal challenges have led other allies to pause or suspend arms exports to Israel. Britain recently suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses, while a Dutch court halted exports of F-35 parts over concerns about their use in attacks on Gaza civilians.

In the US, the Biden administration briefly paused shipments of some bombs but resumed deliveries of other precise weapons systems, citing Israel’s right to self-defense.

Alexander Schwarz, a lawyer at ECCHR, said the decline in Germany’s arms export approvals for 2024 suggests a reluctance to supply Israel, but added, “I would not interpret this as a conscious change in policy.”

With inputs from Reuters