Sound the Alarm: Israel Needs a Clear Message from Germany Now
Germany needs to unequivocally communicate with Israel promptly.
Chancellor Merz's assertion stands strong: Israel's actions in Gaza can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas. The time for consequences is now – loud, clear, and unequivocal.
Since its inception, Israel has been compelled to defend itself from attacks. Within hours of its establishment, Israel faced attacks from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Israel possesses territories beyond its own borders due to additional threats posed by Arab neighbors following their first war. Iran currently poses the most significant threat to Israel, having advocated for the destruction of the "Zionist regime" for decades.
Hamas, like Israel, aims for the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews since its inception. The Gaza war was triggered by Hamas terrorists launching attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, not the other way around. They slaughtered nearly 1200 people and abducted 250 more. This massacre marked the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. To this day, Hamas fires rockets from Gaza into Israel, with Houthi militia attacks from Iran now increasing in frequency. To this day, Hamas continues to hold captives.
Gaza: A Test of Morality for International Aid
All of these facts must be emphasized to ensure the fact is clear: Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, is not the aggressor in the Middle East conflict's ever-changing landscape. If Germany supplies weapons to Israel, it does so for valid reasons. Israel's survival depends on its ability to defend itself.
At the same time, it is evident that the solidarity displayed in arms deliveries pertains to the state of Israel, not a specific government. Least of all the current one. Its actions against Hamas in Gaza are disproportionate. Despite the recent humanitarian aid, a famine still poses a significant threat in Gaza. Suspicions linger that the Israeli government is utilizing hunger as a weapon. Food is now being distributed by an obscure foundation with which the US government officially claims no association. Prior to this, no aid had reached Gaza for over two and a half months.
According to a rough estimate by the British "Economist" from early May, between 77,000 and 109,000 Palestinians in Gaza have perished in this war. This accounts for four to five percent of the pre-war population of the region. The number remains above the figures provided by the Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza as of the end of May: They reported 54,084 deaths, including 16,854 children. It is undeniable that the number of deaths is staggering.
"Yes, Israel Commits War Crimes"
Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip lies in ruins, with no means for its residents to seek refuge in safer zones. The question of whether Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, such as starving the population, has long been posed – not just by pro-Palestinian activists, whose accusations are often dismissed, but also by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently wrote in a guest article for "Haaretz" that Israel is waging a "war of destruction" in Gaza. According to Olmert, "What is happening there is not isolated incidents but the deliberate result of government policy."
A Change in Strategy is Needed
"An ideology can be defeated or destroyed with other state-wide approaches by offering a scenario for the day after," Austrian Colonel and military strategist Matthias Wasinger explained in an interview with ntv.de. This essential element is missing in Israel's strategy. The Israeli government is relying solely on military success and the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Israel plans to construct 22 new settlements. The existing settlements already violate international law. Every new settlement increases the likelihood that the West Bank will be annexed by Israel.
A Friend's Disapproval
"I can no longer understand what the Israeli army is doing in Gaza, with what goal," Merz remarked last week." The civilian population is increasingly being affected, which cannot be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism."
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed this stance, stating that Israel must be able to defend itself against attacks, thus receiving weapons from Germany. "However, the question remains whether Israel's actions in Gaza can be reconciled with humanitarian international law. We will examine this, and any future arms deliveries will be based on this examination."
Time for Action
This stance shares common ground with the SPD, but not with the Union, especially not with the CSU. The examination that Wadephul mentioned will not take place. Wadephul has also backtracked, although he denies a change of course. "Germany will continue to support the State of Israel, including through arms sales," he stated in the Bundestag on Wednesday. If this implies continued business as usual, then this stance is a mistake.
- Weapon delivery
- Debate on weapon deliveries
- Israel
- Gaza Strip
- Gaza
- Hamas
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Friedrich Merz
- Johann Wadephul
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Overall:
Germany's stance on weapon deliveries to Israel amid the Gaza conflict and war crimes allegations involves a nuanced approach. Despite initial suggestions that arm deliveries might be under review, Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing these deliveries. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Germany will support Israel, including through arms sales, highlighting Israel's security needs and threats from various groups[2][5].
However, Wadephul also criticized Israel's settlement expansion in the West Bank, calling it contrary to international law and obstructive to the two-state solution[1]. This criticism reflects a broader European concern about Israel's actions in occupied territories.
Between October 7, 2023, and May 13, 2025, Germany approved over €485 million ($554 million) in arms exports to Israel, which includes a range of military equipment[3][4]. The decision to continue arms deliveries follows a period of review and criticism from within Germany's own political ranks[2][4].
The European Union, committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Paris Agreement, must address the ongoing crisis in Gaza, a test of morality for international aid, where war-and-conflicts and politics intertwine with general-news. Germany's stance on weapon deliveries to Israel amid the Gaza conflict and war crimes allegations is not just a matter of policy but also a moral question for the international community. The European Union should use its diplomatic efforts to ensure that weapon deliveries, debates on weapon deliveries, and Israel's actions in Gaza are in line with humanitarian international law, promoting peace and stability in the region.
