Germany will continue to export weapons to Israel even as there is increasing condemnation of the Israeli military operation in Gaza, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul asserted on Wednesday (June 4), a reversal of previous comments hinting at a potential policy change.
Speaking in a bitter session in parliament, Wadephul underlined that Israel is repeatedly threatened by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Iran. “Germany will remain committed to Israel, including with weapons shipments,” he said.
The minister’s comments come after his own earlier statements suggesting a review of Israel’s adherence to international law, which drew criticism from his CDU/CSU conservative coalition partners. The parliamentary debate was interrupted momentarily by a protester shouting “Free Palestine” and “No to genocide” from the public gallery before being led off by police. Wadephul will meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Berlin on Thursday.
Despite the government’s firm stance, German public sentiment leans toward limiting arms sales to Israel. A recent poll revealed that 73% of Germans support stricter export controls, with nearly one-third favoring a full ban.
Since the October 2023 Hamas attacks on southern Israel, Germany has licensed military exports worth €485 million ($553.7 million), becoming Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the US Shipments have ranged from weapons to ammunition, armored cars, and advanced military hardware.
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany, recently condemned Israel’s intensifying Gaza strikes as excessive and difficult to justify, comments that prompted speculation on a change in Germany’s arms policy. But Wadephul’s recent statement seemed to be one to reaffirm the support for Israel.
A June 2–3 ARD survey revealed that 74% of Germans are against automatic support for Israel, and 63% are of the opinion that its reaction in Gaza was disproportional. But no such legal action, such as Nicaragua’s case before the International Court of Justice, has been able to stop Germany’s weapons sales.
