Steer clear of getting overly familiar with the opposition.
In August 2025, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a partial weapons export ban on Israel, suspending approvals for military equipment that could be used in the ongoing Gaza conflict. This decision came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of a new operation to seize Gaza City.
The context of this ban is shaped by growing public opposition in Germany to Israel's military actions in Gaza. A poll cited by DW News showed that 66% of Germans wanted Germany to do more to pressure Israel, while only 31% believed Germany has a special responsibility to Israel, indicating changing public sentiment that partly motivated the government's stance.
However, the ban has been described as a partial limitation rather than a full embargo. Critics, including the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, contend that Germany's announcement is vague and riddled with loopholes. They highlight that on the same day Merz announced the suspension, the German submarine manufacturer TKMS was granted a license to export a submarine to Israel. This suggests that current licenses remain valid and some military support continues, undermining the embargo's effectiveness.
Merz justified the embargo by stating that Germany cannot supply weapons "into a conflict that is now trying to be solved solely through military means," reflecting a concern about escalating violence and an attempt to pressure Israel towards a diplomatic resolution. If the hunger situation in Gaza worsens, Merz may resort to more drastic measures.
The ban mainly affects spare parts for tanks and ammunition, and Germany supplies little of the latter. The federal government has legitimacy to tighten screws on Israel due to the current situation. The German state's interest lies in Israel's right to exist, not in a potential Greater Israel with annexed West Bank and Gaza.
Reactions to the ban have been mixed. The CSU (Christian Social Union) and Axel Springer's newspapers reportedly criticized the partial embargo, although specific details are not available. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted negatively to the ban, as implied by the timing of his aggressive military operation announcement which preceded the embargo. Netanyahu’s stance has typically been firm on security issues and resistance to international pressures limiting Israel's military actions.
In summary, Merz’s partial weapons export ban reflects Germany's attempt to balance its alliance with Israel and growing public opposition to Israeli military actions in Gaza, aiming to signal pressure without fully breaking military ties. Reactions from German conservative circles and Israel's leadership are mostly critical, viewing the ban as a problematic and potentially harmful gesture to their strategic partnership and Israel’s security policies.
*References*
[1] DW News. (2025). Germany imposes partial weapons export ban on Israel amid Gaza conflict. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-imposes-partial-weapons-export-ban-on-israel-amid-gaza-conflict/a-61033915
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Germany's Merz imposes partial weapons ban on Israel amid Gaza conflict. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/germany-merz-imposes-partial-weapons-ban-on-israel-amid-gaza-conflict
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