Germany Delays Arms Sales to Israel Over Humanitarian Concerns
Senior German officials have blocked the approval of arms sales to Israel, despite the government maintaining that no formal embargo is in place, according to sources speaking to Politico. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, both members of the Green Party in Germany’s coalition government, have held up the arms exports until they receive assurances that German weapons will not be used in actions that violate international humanitarian law.
The delay stems from concerns that German arms could be used in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been accused of committing atrocities. "Arms deliveries to Israel are about compliance with international humanitarian law," said a source familiar with the matter, adding that the German government is legally obligated to prevent its weapons from being used against civilians under the War Weapons Control Act.
Germany's cautious approach comes as legal challenges against arms exports are being filed in the country. Several lawsuits are attempting to halt weapons deliveries to Israel, further complicating the issue.
Significant Drop in German Arms Exports to Israel
Despite Germany’s official position that it is not enforcing an arms embargo against Israel, arms export approvals have drastically fallen this year. Between January and August, Germany authorized just €14.5 million in arms exports to Israel, a significant reduction compared to previous years. Notably, no "war weapons" exports have been approved since March 2024, with most shipments consisting of non-lethal military equipment like helmets and communications gear.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told lawmakers last week that arms deliveries would resume soon, assuring the Bundestag that the government had "made decisions" to ensure further deliveries.
Broader European and Global Trends
Germany's cautious stance on arms sales to Israel aligns with a broader European trend. French President Emmanuel Macron called for a suspension of weapons shipments to Israel last week, although he later softened his stance. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has also called for a halt in arms exports, citing concerns over Israeli actions in Gaza.
The United Kingdom has already suspended certain arms sales to Israel, and the U.S. has paused the delivery of specific heavy bombs. However, the U.S. has simultaneously ramped up its military assistance to Israel, including deploying an advanced missile defense system and sending soldiers to operate it.
Earlier this year, a Dutch court blocked the export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel over concerns that the jets were being used to target civilians.
The Gaza Health Ministry recently reported that the death toll in the coastal strip has surpassed 42,000 since the escalation of violence began on October 7, 2023, further intensifying international scrutiny on arms exports to Israel.