In a significant political shift, Germany announced on Friday that it will suspend all military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in its ongoing genocide on the Gaza Strip.

The decision comes as Israel’s war on Gaza approaches its 22nd month, leaving tens of thousands dead, millions displaced, and the enclave on the brink of complete humanitarian collapse.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the suspension would remain in place “until further notice,” citing Israel’s latest plan to launch an expanded offensive to seize control of Gaza City — a move widely condemned by humanitarian organisations as a prelude to further mass killings and destruction.

Merz stressed that while Germany recognises Israel’s “right to defend itself,” the latest escalation ordered by Israel’s security cabinet made it “increasingly difficult” for Berlin to see a pathway toward the stated goals of hostage release and a meaningful ceasefire.

Berlin Breaks with Israel Amid Civilian Slaughter

The Chancellor openly voiced concern over the “even harsher military action” approved by Tel Aviv, warning that Israel now bears “even greater responsibility than before” for the fate of Gaza’s civilian population. He called on the Israeli government to allow full and unhindered access for humanitarian aid, including for UN agencies and international NGOs — something Israel has repeatedly obstructed since October 2023.

“Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice,” Merz said.

The German leader also warned Israel against any further annexation moves in the occupied West Bank, a step that would deepen the crisis and further undermine international law.

A Blow to Israel’s War Machine

Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States, exporting €485 million worth of weapons since the Gaza war began. While the US accounts for nearly 70% of Israel’s military imports, Berlin’s support has been a vital second lifeline for Israel’s military campaigns. Italy, in comparison, supplies less than 1% of Israel’s arsenal.

The suspension marks one of the most concrete acts of political distance by Berlin — a nation historically aligned with Israel — in recent decades.

International Opinion Turning Against Israel

The move comes amid a wider sea change in Western attitudes toward Israel’s conduct in Gaza. In July, foreign ministers from 28 countries, including Belgium and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement declaring the war “must end now,” and condemned Israel for “inhumane killing of civilians, including children,” as well as the deliberate obstruction of aid.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, framing the decision as a step toward justice and peace. Shortly after, Portugal revealed it is holding consultations on potential recognition of Palestine, signalling a growing European push toward Palestinian statehood.

The Aid Crisis: From UNRWA to US-Controlled GHF

Since January, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated further after Israel banned the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — the main lifeline for millions of Palestinians — accusing it of tolerating Hamas-linked staff. Responsibility for aid distribution was handed over to the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an opaque and untested body with no prior experience in warzone relief operations.

The result has been catastrophic: aid distribution points have become deadly flashpoints, with crowd crushes and live fire from Israeli forces or security contractors killing desperate civilians waiting for food and water. Established aid groups have slammed the GHF’s system as chaotic, unsafe, and incapable of meeting even a fraction of Gaza’s urgent needs.

A War of Starvation and Siege

Rights groups have accused Israel of using famine as a weapon of war, pointing to the systematic restriction of water, food, and medical supplies into Gaza. This siege has forced Palestinian civilians into desperate conditions, with children dying from malnutrition and disease at an alarming rate.

The decision by Germany — a long-time defender of Israel in European politics — to halt weapons exports marks a political and moral rupture that could embolden other nations to cut off the arms pipeline fueling the devastation in Gaza.

As the humanitarian catastrophe deepens, pressure is mounting on Western capitals to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action — including recognition of Palestine, sanctions against Israel, and the full suspension of military and economic cooperation until the siege ends and the occupation is dismantled. (ILKHA)