Germany Approves Additional Arms Exports to Israel Amid Growing Controversy

Germany's federal government has approved over 30 million euros in arms exports to Israel during the final weeks of 2024, despite increasing international criticism. The decision marks a significant shift from earlier in the year, when Germany temporarily halted weapons exports to Israel in September due to legal challenges and concerns over humanitarian law.

According to a report by the German news outlet Der Spiegel, the approval of arms exports to Israel has continued throughout 2024, totaling more than 160 million euros. This includes critical military supplies such as transmissions for Israel's Merkava tanks, manufactured in Germany, though it was reported that Germany denied some requests from Israel, including artillery and tank ammunition.

The German government has insisted that it is taking steps to ensure that the weapons are only used for missions compliant with international law. This has been a significant point of contention, especially given the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and growing international scrutiny of arms exports to conflict zones.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had visited Israel in September, shortly before the halt on arms exports, and discussions about defense cooperation between the two countries were at the forefront of her visit.

Germany's export policy has been under intense scrutiny, particularly as it seeks to balance its support for Israel with its adherence to international law and humanitarian principles. The continuation of these exports will likely remain a topic of debate within Germany and across the international community.