Germany’s longstanding relationship with Israel took a dramatic turn on August 8, 2025, when Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in Berlin that Germany would halt all weapons exports to Israel until further notice. The decision, delivered in response to the Israeli government’s move to militarily occupy Gaza City, marks a watershed moment in European-Israeli relations and signals a shift in Germany’s approach to military support in the Middle East.
The halt, as detailed by Defense News, prevents the granting of permissions for the export of all weapons and military goods "that may be utilized in the Gaza Strip." Chancellor Merz was unequivocal in attributing the move to "the Israeli cabinet’s decision to take even tougher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip," which had been announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government the night before. Notably, this expanded operation was launched despite public opposition from the Israeli Defense Forces’ chief of staff and other senior military officers, who voiced concerns about the consequences of a complete takeover of Gaza.
Germany’s action comes after a period of significant military support for Israel. Since the outbreak of hostilities following Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023, Berlin approved the delivery of €485 million (about $565 million) in weapons and military gear to Israel, according to a government tally cited by both the BBC and Defense News. During the years 2019 to 2023, Germany accounted for roughly 30% of Israel’s arms imports, second only to the United States, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The scale of Germany’s arms sales to Israel grew substantially after the conflict reignited in late 2023. But as the violence escalated and civilian casualties mounted in Gaza, Berlin’s stance became increasingly fraught. In May 2025, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described the situation in the Palestinian enclave as "unbearable" and openly discussed the possibility of halting arms shipments or even imposing sanctions if Israel continued its military campaign unchecked.
The humanitarian toll in Gaza has been catastrophic. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war since October 2023, with independent studies suggesting the real number may be even higher. Local health authorities have documented nearly 200 deaths from hunger—almost half of them children—while the World Health Organization reported in July that about 12,000 children under the age of five were suffering from acute malnutrition.
In late July, Germany joined forces with Jordan to launch a joint airlift operation, delivering food and medicine to the besieged territory. The move was widely viewed as an attempt to mitigate the suffering in Gaza and demonstrate Berlin’s commitment to humanitarian relief, even as it reconsidered its military relationship with Israel.
Pressure on Israel has not only come from Germany. Several Western governments that have historically supported Israel—namely France, the United Kingdom, and Canada—have announced their intention to formally recognize a Palestinian state, a step that Germany has thus far declined to take. Meanwhile, human rights organizations, including several based in Israel, have leveled accusations of genocide against the Israeli government for its actions in Gaza.
Chancellor Merz, in his announcement, reaffirmed Israel’s "right to self-defense" and the necessity of disarming Hamas. Yet, the halt in weapons exports underscores a growing divergence between Berlin’s historic sense of responsibility—rooted in the atrocities of the Holocaust—and the realities of contemporary Middle Eastern conflict. For decades, Germany’s support for Israel has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy, sometimes placing the government at odds with segments of German public opinion. The current decision, however, reflects the mounting domestic and international pressure to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reconsider the ethical implications of arms sales.
Importantly, the German halt does not amount to a total arms embargo. According to Defense News, Berlin has left the door open for the delivery of military equipment that cannot be used in Gaza, such as air defense systems. This nuanced approach allows Germany to maintain some level of security cooperation with Israel while signaling its disapproval of the current military campaign in Gaza.
The Israeli cabinet’s decision to expand its ground operation in Gaza was met with internal dissent. Senior military officers, including the chief of staff, reportedly opposed the plan for a full-scale takeover, raising questions about the unity of Israel’s leadership and the long-term strategic vision for the conflict. With Germany’s decision, Israel now faces not only internal divisions but also a recalibration of support from one of its most important European allies.
The BBC’s World Business Report highlighted the economic dimension of the arms trade, noting that Germany’s $565 million in military hardware exports to Israel since October 2023 have been substantial. The report raised questions about how vital German weapons are to Israel’s military capabilities and what the broader economic consequences might be for German industry.
For Germany, the decision to halt arms sales is not without risk. The move could have economic repercussions for the German defense sector, which has benefited from lucrative contracts with Israel. It also places Berlin in a delicate diplomatic position, balancing its historic responsibility to Israel with its obligations under international humanitarian law and the expectations of its European partners.
Human rights organizations have welcomed the decision, arguing that continued arms exports would make Germany complicit in the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Critics, however, warn that the halt could undermine Israel’s security and embolden its adversaries. Within Germany, the debate reflects a broader reckoning over the country’s role in global conflicts and the limits of its historic commitments.
As the situation in Gaza deteriorates, the international community is watching closely to see whether Germany’s move will prompt other countries to follow suit or if it will remain an outlier among Israel’s traditional allies. The coming months are likely to test the resilience of Germany-Israel relations and the broader international consensus on how to respond to the conflict.
Germany’s halt of arms exports to Israel marks a profound shift in a relationship shaped by history, morality, and geopolitics. As Berlin navigates the fallout, the world is left to ponder what this means for the future of peace and security in the Middle East.
