Five plaintiffs from Gaza brought the case with support from Palestinian and German rights groups, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights.
A group of Palestinians have filed a complaint at Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court challenging the country’s arms exports to Israel, their lawyers announced Monday.
Five plaintiffs from Gaza brought the case with support from Palestinian and German rights groups, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) announced in a statement.
“The constitutional complaint is directed against German export licenses for tank transmissions manufactured by the company Renk. Tanks in which these transmissions are installed are being used extensively in Gaza – including in ways that violate international law and harm the civilian population,” the ECCHR stated.
Germany’s arms exports to Israel challenged at country’s top court
European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, which is supporting the Palestinian plaintiffs, says Germany must fulfill its responsibility and stop all arms exports to Israel https://t.co/ZYh8NURrX8 pic.twitter.com/CSrM5AI6in
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 20, 2025
The ECCHR, together with the Palestinian human rights organizations the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) in Gaza, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza and Al Haq human rights organization in Ramallah, is supporting the complainant.
“As long as the German government approves arms deliveries to Israel that can be used in Gaza, it is violating its constitutional duties of protection and international law,” ECCHR experts said in a statement.
“The German government must fulfill its responsibility: no arms exports to Israel while there is a risk of systematic violations of international law,” they stressed.
In addition, they called for the lifting of the Israeli blockade on humanitarian assistance and the enabling “of independent international investigations in Gaza under UN mandate.”
Previous Legal Challenges
The complaint follows previous legal challenges at local and regional courts that were rejected over the past two years. The plaintiffs invoke their fundamental right to life and physical safety under Germany’s Basic Law, as well as their right to effective legal protection.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition government announced in August that it would halt approval of new weapons exports that could be used in Gaza, amid growing international and domestic pressure. However, the government did not commit to stopping deliveries of weapons already approved.
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According to the ECCHR, previously granted licenses continue to be delivered despite warnings from UN bodies and international organizations about war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, announced on October 10, has provided temporary relief, the ECCHR experts said. They emphasized that Israeli military attacks continue in parts of Gaza, and Israel still intends to occupy and control large portions of the Gaza Strip.
‘Moment of Responsibility’
“The Trump Agreement has interrupted the Israeli government’s genocidal war in Gaza,” said Wolfgang Kaleck, ECCHR’s secretary general. “However, neither have its crimes of the recent past been properly accounted for, nor has Netanyahu’s regime committed itself to respecting the human rights of Palestinians and international law in the future. In such a situation, both the basic law and international law prohibit German arms deliveries to Israel.”
The experts also stressed that the ceasefire “must not serve as relief – neither for Israel nor for Germany. It must be understood as a moment of responsibility: for accountability, for prevention and for the enforcement of the law.”
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In 2023, Germany issued a license for the export to Israel of 3,000 anti-tank weapons, a request regarding 10,000 rounds of 120mm precision ammunition for Israeli tanks is still pending, according to Al-Haq. It said a large number of other components, such as engines for tanks, have been licensed and exported as well, making Germany the second biggest arms provider to Israel after the U.S.
“Stopping the arms shipments would send an important political signal to help make this happen. International law, international humanitarian law and human rights law are there to protect civilian populations in times of war,” Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) in Gaza said.
“Germany should stop the shipment of every last ammunition cartridge that is used to kill us in Gaza and demand an immediate ceasefire,” he added.
‘Disregard’ for ICJ Ruling
Issam Younis, Director Al Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza, pointed out that Germany’s continuing arms trade with Israel “not only stands as a moral affront but also a flagrant violation of international law.”
Younis emphasized that the recent UN Human Rights Council resolution, urging all States to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel, “underscores the urgency of this matter.”
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At the same time, Shawan Jabarin, Director of Al-Haq in Ramallah, warned that Germany’s arming of Israel, “stands in flagrant disregard of the International Court of Justice’s finding of a plausible case of genocide.”
Jabarain added: “Acting with knowledge, Germany has continued to arm Israel with weapons to destroy the Palestinian people –– killing innocent newborn babies, children, women, men, the elderly, journalists, medical doctors and more, –– in the commission of the most heinous international crimes witnessed this 21st century.”
The director added that “Germany’s acts are not only destroying the Palestinian people, they are destroying the rules based international order wherein the most basic precepts of humanity are enshrined.”
Ceasefire Violations
Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 68,000 Palestinians, with more than 169,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.
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Since a US-backed ceasefire came into effect on October 10, Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 80 times, killing 97 Palestinians and injuring more than 200 others.
Despite widespread international condemnation, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. The nation is currently under investigation for genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are officially wanted by the International Criminal Court.
(PC, Anadolu)
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