By Sam McNeill and FANNY BRODERSEN
BERLIN (AP) In a startlingly prompt reaction to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet’s decision to seize control of Gaza City, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Friday that his country would not permit any military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in Gaza until further notice.
In the wake of the military takeover plan that has been denounced by the United Nations, aid and human rights organizations, and supporters of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, among others, Germany’s action seemed likely to further isolate Israel. Germany has previously refrained from taking the same harsh stance against Israel’s government as some of its European Union allies.
Germany is one of the main international exporters of military hardware to Israel, along with the US and Italy. The halt supplements other actions taken by European nations in recent months in response to Israel’s government’s actions during the nearly two-year war in Gaza, including diplomatic, military, and economic sanctions.
In a statement, Merz stated that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas violence and that our top priorities are the liberation of Israeli hostages and deliberate ceasefire talks. According to him, Hamas cannot play a part in Gaza’s destiny.
He claimed that the German government is finding it more and more difficult to envision how these objectives will be accomplished in light of the Israeli army’s even more severe military action in the Gaza Strip, which was authorized by the Israeli Cabinet yesterday night. As a result, until further notice, the German government will not permit the export of any military hardware that might be utilized in the Gaza Strip.
The European Union, Canada, and the United States have all classified Hamas as a terrorist group.
According to a statement from the Israeli government, Netanyahu told Merz that he was disappointed with the armaments decision during their conversation on Friday. According to the statement, Germany is giving Hamas incentives and refusing to back Israel’s legitimate war against the organization.
Which German military hardware will be impacted was not immediately apparent. The German government refused to respond when contacted by The Associated Press for further information.
Germany has taken the lead in attempts by the 27 EU members to prevent collective criticism of or attempts to halt Israel’s military campaign in the coastal enclave and siege of Gaza.
Germany, along with Hungary and the Czech Republic, has opposed calls from Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands to impose an arms embargo, penalize settlers, and revoke a bilateral agreement with Israel.
Merz stated that the suffering of civilians in Gaza continues to be a major concern for the German government.
According to him, the Israeli government is now much more accountable for meeting their requirements in light of the impending onslaught.
Merz said Israel must continue to handle the humanitarian situation in Gaza in a thorough and sustainable manner and urged it to grant full access for assistance delivery, especially for U.N. and other civilian groups.
Given that Germany is regarded as one of Israel’s most ardent supporters—possibly second only to the United States—the action carries extra weight. Germany’s historical responsibility for the Holocaust, which molded its postwar foreign policy around protecting Israel’s security and battling antisemitism, has contributed significantly to its decades-long strong pro-Israel position.
The governments of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state in September, but Merz’s government chose not to follow suit.
The likelihood that international pressure would influence Israel’s policies was dimmed by Germany, the EU’s largest economic power, being reluctant to take a more firm stance against Netanyahu’s government’s actions thus far.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians have already died in Gaza as a result of Israel’s air and ground conflict, which has also forced the majority of the population to flee, damaged large regions, and driven the region closer to starvation. The campaign began on October 7, 2023, when terrorists led by Hamas invaded Israel, murdering almost 1,200 people and kidnapping 251.
Merz also urged the Israeli government to stop pursuing the annexation of the West Bank.
Germany was Israel’s second-largest arms exporter last year, behind the United States, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI.
According to data examined by SIPRI arms transfers analyst Zain Hussain, German firms supply 30% of Israel’s defense imports, primarily naval weapons. He implied that the German withdrawal would only last temporarily.
Hussain stated that this would be a limited action. Germany has pledged to supply Israel with weapons, particularly ships.
“This is a big deal for Germany, which has been a staunch supporter of Israel, to publicly acknowledge that it is uncomfortable with Israel’s actions and restricting certain arms transfers,” he said. However, Israel still has the United States as a reliable source of armaments, so I don’t think this will be enough to end its activities in Gaza.
Israeli Merkava tanks and Namer armored personnel carriers, which are currently in use in Gaza, can be equipped with German-made engines. According to Hussain, German artillery and advanced radar equipment have been utilized to bombard targets in Gaza throughout the conflict using Saar corvettes, which are small warships.
The government has authorized 485 million euros (about $565 million) in weaponry exports to Israel between October 7, 2023, and May 13 of this year, according to a June article by the German news agency DPA, which cited data from the Germany Economy Ministry.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, made the harshest condemnation of Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza in a post on X, saying that it has to be reexamined. She urged Israel to let additional help to enter.
Concerned about civilians and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the foreign ministers of the Netherlands and Denmark criticized Israel’s decision to further up the operation. Jan Lipavsk, the foreign minister of the Czech Republic, told the CTK news agency that his nation views Israel’s plan as dangerous.
In response to Israel’s activities in Gaza, Slovenia declared last week—even before the intention to take over Gaza City—that it would be the first EU member state to prohibit the import, export, and transit of any weapons to and from Israel.
Israel’s limitations on assistance supplies into Gaza and the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians attempting to reach food were denounced by two dozen governments, primarily from Europe, last month.
Although it had little military effect, the United Kingdom halted the transfer of some weapons to Israel last year due to worries that they would be used to violate international law. About 30 out of 350 current export licenses for equipment that could be utilized in Gaza, such as parts for military aircraft, helicopters, and drones, were at issue in this judgment.
As rallies in London, Berlin, Brussels, and other European capitals have been sparked by images of Palestinian suffering, outrage over Israel’s conduct in Gaza has spread throughout the continent. More recently, the EU’s good relationship with Israel has been put to the ultimate test by the nearly daily killings of Palestinians who are trying to get aid.
Despite concerns by many Israelis who are worried about the remaining hostages held by Hamas and growing international calls to terminate the war, the Israeli decision was made following a late-night conference of top officials. Families of the hostages worry that their loved ones won’t return, while tens of thousands of Palestinians prepare to be evicted from their homes once more.
Fifty hostages are still inside Gaza, while the majority have been freed through ceasefires or other agreements. Israel estimates that about 20 of them are still alive.
It is uncertain when another significant Israeli ground operation will take place because it will probably need the mobilization of thousands of troops and the forced evacuation of civilians, which would further worsen the humanitarian situation.
Reporting from Brussels was Sam McNeil. Contributions to this story came from Jamey Keaten in Lyon, France, and Karel Janicek in Prague.
