German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday announced the suspension, until further notice, of exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip.
The decision followed the Israeli government’s move to expand military operations in the coastal territory.
In a statement, Merz said, “The German Government remains deeply concerned about the ongoing suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. With the planned offensive, the Israeli Government bears even greater responsibility than before.”
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He added that the Israeli Security Cabinet’s overnight decision had made it increasingly difficult to achieve key objectives such as the release of hostages, a ceasefire, and the disarmament of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Germany has been one of Israel’s strongest allies since the 7 October 2023 attacks, and Berlin had repeatedly blocked EU initiatives to sanction Israel over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
