Germany's CDU leader Spahn lends support to Chancellor Merz on arming Israel
In a significant move, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced the temporary suspension of weapons deliveries to Israel that could be used in Gaza. The decision comes in response to Israel's escalation of military operations in the Gaza Strip [1][3].
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced his intention to take control of Gaza City last week [2]. This move by the Israeli government has raised concerns within the German government, leading to the halt of all arms exports to Israel until further notice [1].
The German government has expressed deep concern over the expanded Israeli ground offensive and its humanitarian implications. Despite reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense and the necessity to disarm Hamas, the government is worried about the potential loss of hundreds of thousands of civilian lives [1][2].
Before the suspension, Germany had approved the delivery of approximately €485 million ($565 million) worth of weapons and military equipment to Israel since the start of the conflict until mid-May 2025 [1]. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly expressed disappointment over Germany’s decision in a call with Chancellor Merz [2].
CDU faction leader Jens Spahn has supported Merz's decision to impose an export ban on certain arms to Israel. Spahn believes that the export ban could help alleviate the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza and set a new impetus for a peaceful development in the Middle East [3].
Spahn reiterates that the fundamental principles of German-Israel policy remain unchanged. He emphasises that the special relationship between Germany and Israel allows for open dialogue and the ability to withstand differing opinions in difficult situations [3].
Merz has expressed concern that the Israeli government's military escalation in the Gaza Strip makes it increasingly difficult to achieve their goals. He defended his decision to suspend weapon deliveries, stating that the fundamentals of German-Israel policy are unchanged [2].
Despite the criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who accused Germany of rewarding Hamas terrorism, the Federal Government remains committed to aiding Israel in self-defense [2]. The Federal Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and aims to resume deliveries as soon as possible.
In summary, Germany's policy is now a suspension of military exports to Israel linked specifically to operations in Gaza, reflecting both political opposition to the current military escalation and concern for Palestinian suffering, while still maintaining a commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself [1][2][3].
References:
[1] Deutsche Welle (2023). Germany halts arms exports to Israel over Gaza conflict. https://www.dw.com/en/germany-halts-arms-exports-to-israel-over-gaza-conflict/a-63511913
[2] The Jerusalem Post (2023). Netanyahu criticizes Germany for suspending arms exports to Israel. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/netanyahu-criticizes-germany-for-suspending-arms-exports-to-israel-685247
[3] Spiegel Online (2023). Jens Spahn supports Merz's decision to ban arms exports to Israel. https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/jens-spahn-unterstuetzt-merzs-entscheidung-zu-waffenexport-an-israel-a-73c692d9-2c3c-46e8-a32d-d177f9956329
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