Germany’s government announced on Monday (November 17) that it would lift the temporary suspension on arms sales to Israel starting from the 24th of this month, resuming the export approval process on a case-by-case basis. Berlin emphasized that this decision is conditional on the continued stability of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the large-scale provision of humanitarian aid.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced back in August that Berlin would “suspend the approval of any military equipment exports that could be used in Gaza” following the Israeli cabinet’s decision to take control of Gaza City, until further notice. The decision had initially sparked strong criticism from conservatives within the ruling coalition.
Government spokesperson, Sebastian Hille, stated during a routine press conference on the 17th that since the ceasefire in the Gaza region on October 10, the situation has “essentially stabilized,” which is the main basis for lifting the restrictions on arms sales. He emphasized that Germany expects all parties to adhere to established agreements, including maintaining the ceasefire and continuing to provide humanitarian assistance.
According to government explanations, the approval process for arms sales will return to the standard case-by-case evaluation procedure, with Germany closely monitoring developments in Gaza. The lifting of the ban covers equipment that has been frozen since August and could potentially be used in Gaza operations, excluding systems used by Israel for external defense.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that the Foreign Ministry was deeply involved in the decision-making process and described the restoration of arms sales as a “responsible and correct choice” in light of the sustainable ceasefire.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed Germany’s lifting of restrictions in a post on the social platform X on the evening of the 17th, urging other countries to “emulate Germany.”
Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data, from 2019 to 2023, Germany accounted for 30% of Israel’s major conventional weapons imports, primarily providing naval equipment such as Sa’ar 6-class patrol boats, some of which have been used in Gaza conflicts.
Currently, the ceasefire agreement in Gaza remains in place, with the Red Cross recently facilitating the transfer of multiple human remains to Israeli authorities. World leaders and Middle East diplomatic channels cautiously express optimism about the implementation of the ceasefire plan by both sides, viewing it as an important step towards ending the Gaza conflict.