Germany has reportedly halted new exports of weapons of war to Israel in response to legal challenges. The Ministry of Economy has paused approving export licenses for arms to Israel due to pressure from legal cases arguing that such exports violate humanitarian law. However, the government has denied imposing a boycott on arms exports to Israel.
Last year, Germany approved arms exports to Israel worth 326.5 million euros, but approvals have dropped this year with only 14.5 million euros worth granted from January to August. The government has defended its actions, stating that no weapons of war have been exported under any license issued since October 7.
The legal challenges against German arms exports to Israel have created internal disagreements within the government, with the Chancellery supporting Israel while the Greens-led economy and foreign ministries have criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration. Other European allies, such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, have also suspended arms exports to Israel over concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law.
The Biden administration paused and then resumed shipments of some bombs to Israel this year after expressing concerns about their use in densely populated areas in Gaza. While the decline in German approvals for arms exports to Israel in 2024 may indicate a reluctance to supply weapons, it is not seen as a deliberate change in policy by experts.
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