Germany has approved a new arms shipment worth €2.46 million to Israel, despite partial export bans imposed over human rights violations in Gaza.
The German Ministry of Economic Affairs responded to a parliamentary question from the opposition Left Party (Die Linke), stating that between August 8 and September 22, 2025, German defense manufacturers were allowed to supply certain military equipment to Israel. The ministry emphasized that these approvals did not include “combat weapons” and represented only a small portion of previously authorized exports.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz had announced on August 8 that arms usable in Gaza would be suspended following Israel’s decision to escalate operations there. Nonetheless, Berlin had permitted approximately €250 million worth of weapons shipments to Israel between January 1 and August 8, 2025.
Last year, Germany approved €327 million in arms and military equipment sales to Israel, a tenfold increase compared to 2022.
Left Party MP Lea Reisner sharply criticized the government for issuing new export licenses, saying, “The German government continues to approve millions of dollars in military exports to Israel while misleading the public with so-called export suspensions.”
Germany’s longstanding support for Israel is often justified by officials citing the country’s historical responsibility stemming from its Nazi past and the Holocaust. Arms export decisions are made by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the Foreign Ministry, and the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), with the Federal Security Council—including the Chancellor and other ministers—sometimes involved in sensitive cases.
No official statement has been made regarding arms shipments to Israel via third countries.
