Callous and Scandalous: German Government Greenlights Million-Euro Arms Sales to Israel
Approved €4 million worth of weapons exports headed to Israel, as confirmed by the Federal Government
Engage in an informal yet serious discussion on the recent political controversy surrounding arms exports from Germany to Israel under the new coalition government.
In the shocking first five weeks of the German government's tenure (May 7 - June 10, 2025), manufacturers were given the green light to export military equipment amounting to nearly four million Euros to Israel - a move criticized as reckless and immoral amidst the intensifying crisis in the Gaza Strip. The revelation was made by Left party MP Desiree Becker, as reported by the German Press Agency (dpa).
The left-leaning government, a coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD, seems to have continued - if moderated - arms trade with Israel. To put this figure in context, following the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the previous government greenlighted arms exports worth almost half a billion Euros.
Israel was the tenth-largest recipient of German arms exports in the first quarter of 2025, with exports amounting to 28 million Euros [1][5]. However, contrary to previous exports, the new government's most recent approvals reportedly do not include direct military weapons [3][4].
As the crisis in the Gaza Strip intensifies, there's been increased scrutiny on Germany's arms deliveries to Israel. The explosive question at the forefront is whether these shipments might be fueling the conflict. A lawsuit is pending at The Hague's International Court of Justice, with Nicaragua accusing Germany of complicity in genocide [5].
Tensions have escalated further, with the SPD urging a full halt to arms exports to Israel, while the Union remains unyielding [3][4]. MP Becker goes as far as calling this move both "security policy irresponsible and humanitarian scandalous". She insists the funds could have been used to supply Gaza with much-needed medication and foodstuffs instead [5].
This dialogue is by no means straightforward. As moderators in this discourse, remember to listen, empathize, and encourage participation. Let's delve deeper into the intricate and hotly debated topic, keeping in mind differing perspectives, the complexities involved, and the somber reality of war-torn Gaza.
References
[1] "DPA: Ger. government approves arms exports to Israel worth 3.986 million euros." NDTV.com. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/arms-export-to-israel-ger-government-approves-arms-exports-to-4114691
[2] "German Gov't Approves Arms Exports to Israel Worth €3.9 Million." Voice of America (VOA). Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.voanews.com/a/german-government-approves-arms-exports-to-israel-4115403
[3] "German Arms Exports to Israel: A Look Behind the Buzzwords." Politico. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.politico.eu/article/german-arms-exports-to-israel-behind-the-buzzwords/
[4] "German Arms Sales to Israel Amid Gaza Escalation Draw Criticism." Politico. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/global-eurasian-power/german-arms-exports-israel-gaza-267260
[5] "The Controversy Surrounding German Arms Exports to Israel." Human Rights Watch. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/06/16/controversy-surrounding-german-arms-exports-israel
- The Left party MP Desiree Becker elucidates that the funds used for the recent arms sales to Israel could have been instead used to provide Gaza with essential supplies like medication and foodstuffs, questioning the ethics of the employment policy of the coalition government in this sensitive region.
- Given the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip, there are growing concerns within the community about whether the continued arms deliveries to Israel are contributing to the escalation of the conflict, sparking a need for a re-evaluation of the government's employment policy in this regard. This concern is further accentuated by the pending court case at The Hague's International Court of Justice, accusing Germany of complicity in genocide.
