Rocket launchers were allegedly sanctioned by the lighthouse for Israel prior to the catastrophic incident
In a move that has sparked controversy and raised ethical concerns, the current German "traffic light" government, a coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP, has approved the continued export of Matador rocket launchers and other military equipment to Israel.
The decision, made in the second half of 2024, has been a subject of debate due to the potential use of these weapons in conflict situations, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The Matador rocket launchers have been reportedly used in house-to-house combat in the region, raising concerns about their impact on civilian populations.
The Federal Foreign Office, under the leadership of Annalena Baerbock, took an independent stance in March 2024, stopping the release of certain spare parts for the Israeli army. However, this decision seems to have been overshadowed by the approval of the Matador rocket launchers and other equipment.
The report by "Die Zeit" does not guarantee that German weapons will not be used in the Gaza Strip. In fact, there are videos from the region that allegedly show Israeli soldiers laughing while firing Matador weapons at residential buildings.
The dispute over weapons deliveries to Israel in the summer of 2024 was resolved, with exports being approved on a monthly basis to avoid public attention. A "bureaucratic trick" was employed to remove the weapons deliveries from parliamentary oversight, bypassing the Federal Security Council and instructing ministries to act accordingly.
Before the renewed increase in export approvals, the traffic light government reportedly demanded a self-commitment from the Israeli army. Federal Chancellor Scholz even threatened to use his guideline competence in the dispute over weapons deliveries.
From January to the end of June 2023, Germany approved weapons deliveries to Israel worth about 90 million euros. Since October 7, 2023, the total value of the arms goods approved has reached 577 million euros. Along with the Matador rocket launchers, several hundred gearboxes for Merkava tanks were also approved for delivery, as well as large quantities of spare parts and equipment for vehicles, surveillance systems, and warships.
Despite the controversy, the German government has not issued a guarantee that German weapons will not be used in the Gaza Strip. The Foreign Office has justified its decision by citing the ongoing lawsuit before the International Criminal Court for complicity in genocide at the time.
It is important to note that the nature of this decision involves Germany supplying significant military equipment to Israel, which can raise ethical and political debates domestically within Germany and internationally. However, there is no substantiated link between this export decision and the potential collapse of the German government.
[1] Source: "Die Zeit" report, August 2025.
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