Union against stopping arms exports to Israel
The management of the Union faction in the Bundestag has stood in the Gaza strip for a stop of the arms deliveries to Israel because of the military approach. The parliamentary board was on Monday with Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) informed on a common line, according to which « criticism among friends » should be spoken to Israel, said the parliamentary managing director Steffen Bilger. « But what is not on the agenda for us now are further conclusions when it comes to arms deliveries or any sanctions. »
Arms exports for around 485 million euros
Since the terrorist attack of Hamas almost 20 months ago Federal government Arms exports approved for almost half a billion euros to Israel. From October 7, 2023 to May 13, 2025, the delivery of weapons and military equipment worth 485.1 million euros was allowed to Israel, as can be seen from a current response from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to a request from the left faction.
The military approach of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip and the catastrophic humanitarian situation there have led to demands from the SPD after stopping arms exports. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had sharply criticized the Israeli government last week, but apart from the threat with concrete consequences.
Bilger said that the demands for an arms embargo was known that Israel is not only threatened by shelling from the Gaza Strip, but also by attacks from Yemen and Iran. « It simply has to be a matter of course that we continue to support Israel with arms exports. »
Dobrindt: « The state of the state towards Israel is our yardstick »
Similar statements came from the CSU. State group leader Alexander Hoffmann said: « As long as the state of Israel is threatened in its existence, there will be arms deliveries from Germany. » Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) also clearly advocated a continuation of the arms exports: « The state räson towards Israel is our benchmark. »
In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, WadePhul had previously made arms deliveries dependent on a international law review of the military approach of Israel in the Gaza Strip. « Aligned with this exam, we may approved further arms deliveries, » he said. This had caused irritation in the Union
Lawsuit at the International Court of Justice
There have been discussions about the German armaments deliveries to Israel for months. A lawsuit from the Latin American country of Nicaragua is pending at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, which accuses Germany due to the arms exports of the aid for genocide. At the end of April 2024, the judges rejected an urgent request to stop deliveries. However, they did not correspond to the demand of Germany to completely reject Nicaragua.
The left-wing defense politician Ulrich Thoden called for an immediate attitude of all arms deliveries of the Federal Republic to Israel. « Otherwise, she could be guilty of the aid for international law crimes. »
