Gaza Crisis and Germany's Controversial Arm Sales to Israel
Opposition Continues to Stand Firm on Exporting Arms to Israel
Here's the scoop on the ongoing Gaza conflict and Germany's dicey decision to keep delivering weapons to Israel.
A Divided Parliament
Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, is split over stopping arms deliveries to Israel due to its military actions in Gaza. The Union faction's board, led by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and parliamentary business manager Steffen Bilger, has resisted this idea. They argue that as "critical friends," they must express criticism towards Israel, but considering the threats Israel faces from multiple sources such as shelling from Gaza, attacks from Yemen, and Iran, it's necessary to keep supplying weapons.
Millions in Arms Deals
Since the Hamas terror attack nearly 20 months ago, the federal government has approved arms exports worth almost half a billion euros to Israel. From October 7, 2023, to May 13, 2025, the Economics Ministry approved the delivery of weapons and military equipment worth 485.1 million euros to Israel. This approval has sparked an uproar, particularly from the SPD, which demands a halt to arms exports due to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and ongoing military actions by the Israeli army.
International Court of Justice: A Hanging Sword
A lawsuit has been pending at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague since Nicaragua accused Germany of aiding genocide through its arms exports. In late April 2024, the judges rejected an urgent application to stop the deliveries but did not dismiss Nicaragua's lawsuit entirely. This legal saga casts a shadow over Germany's arms exports to Israel.
Political Clashes
left-wing defense politician Ulrich Thoden has urged an immediate halt to all weapons deliveries by the Federal Republic to Israel. "Otherwise, it could make itself liable for aiding war crimes." This call has been met with resistance from union and CSU leaders who reiterate their commitment to providing Israel with the necessary military support.
Weighing the Scales
The German government's stance centers on maintaining a delicate balance between supporting Israel's security and upholding international humanitarian law. The review of arms exports is ongoing, and future deliveries will be decided based on the results of this review. Wadephul has stated that Germany "will continue to support the State of Israel, including with arms deliveries," while also stressing that further steps could be taken if the situation escalates.
[Insight from Enrichment Data]
- The review of arm exports to Israel is vital, as Germany seeks to ensure that Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip align with international humanitarian law[1][2].
- The German government's stance can be described as a fine line between offering support to Israel and adhering to international humanitarian law as they face legal challenges[2].
- The total value of arms exports to Israel since October 7, 2023, amounts to approximately €485.1 million, covering a wide range of military equipment[2][4][5].
- The ongoing Gaza conflict, coupled with Germany's arm sales to Israel, has become a focal point of politics, with the Bundestag divided over whether to halt these deliveries due to Israel's military actions.
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is currently reviewing a lawsuit against Germany for allegedly aiding genocide through its arms exports, adding a layer of complexity to the ongoing policy-and-legislation debate regarding arms sales to Israel.
- The general news and crime-and-justice sectors have taken notice of the ongoing controversy, with political figures like Ulrich Thoden advocating for an immediate halt to arms exports to Israel, claiming such actions could make Germany liable for aiding war crimes, while others, such as Union and CSU leaders, argue for continued support to Israel through arms deliveries.
