Germany to Lift Arms Exports Restrictions to Israel, Citing ‘Stabilized’ Ceasefire

November 17, 2025 News
Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU). (Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, via Wikimedia)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Chancellor Friedrich Merz ordered the restrictions on August 8, halting approval of arms exports that could be used in Israel’s onslaught on Gaza.

Germany announced on Monday that it will lift restrictions on arms exports to Israel that it placed in August, citing a “stabilized” ceasefire in Gaza.

The decision takes effect on November 24 and returns the country “to case-by-case reviews in decisions on arms exports and respond to further developments,” government spokesman Stefan Kornelius reportedly told the German press agency DPA.

Kornelius said the government based its decision on the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect on October 10. He also pointed to efforts toward a sustainable peace and increased humanitarian aid in Gaza, the Anadolu news agency reported.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz ordered the restrictions on August 8, halting approval of arms exports that could be used in Israel’s onslaught on Gaza. The decision came in response to Israel’s announcement of a full-scale ground offensive and the stopping of aid deliveries into Gaza.

Germany’s arms exports to Israel have long been contentious and the subject of legal challenges by rights groups and Gaza residents.

Israel Welcomes Decision

Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar, welcomed Germany’s decision.

“I call on other governments to adopt similar decisions, following Germany,” he stated on X.

The Times of Israel reported that Merz spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday on “diplomatic and regional matters.” The report stated that Netanyahu’s office described the call as a “good and friendly conversation.”

Legal Action

According to Anadolu, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), which supported plaintiffs in their legal action, has repeatedly said that Berlin’s authorization of weapons exports to Israel violated international agreements Germany signed. This included the Geneva Convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide.

In October, the ECCHR together with the Palestinian human rights organizations the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), Al Mezan and Al Haq, announced its support for a Palestinian complainant from Gaza in a constitutional complaint before the Federal Constitutional Court against German arms exports to Israel.

Case Filed at Germany’s Top Court to Challenge Arms Exports to Israel 

The ECCHR said in a statement at the time that “The constitutional complaint is directed against German export licenses for tank transmissions manufactured by the company Renk.”

It added, “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.”

According to al-Haq, Germany issued a license in 2023 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 US.

Staggering Death Toll

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 over 69,000 Palestinians, with more than 170,000 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.

Israeli Strikes and Demolitions Continue Beyond Yellow Line as Winter Crisis Deepens in Gaza

In addition to the military assault, the Israeli blockade has caused a man-made famine, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians—mostly children—with hundreds of thousands more at risk.

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.

(Anadolu, QNN, PC)

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2 Comments

  1. He must have bumped his head real good. The Israeli Nazis don’t want stability, stabilization. They’re DEstabilizing Palestine. Obviously my shady, corrupt US government is pulling the strings, because they destabilize everyone.
    Read into ” 7 countries in 5 years ” a plan to destabilize 7 countries in 5 years, but it’s been more like 20 years. Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Lebanon.
    Then as a bonus, they added Yemen. Most of those countries have been democratized in blood. Most members of Congress are paid to be pro-Israel.
    Remember when they used to call that,
    ‘ accepting a bribe ‘ ?

  2. “stabilized” ceasefire in Gaza?? What fucking ceasefire!?? efforts toward a sustainable peace and increased humanitarian aid in Gaza?? What efforts? Starved & starving!! Endless shelling, killing, raping, blocking aid, it goes on & on! Merz is delusional!

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