Germany has stopped approving arms export contracts to Israel, according to several sources.

A source close to the Economy Ministry quoted a senior German government official as saying that the government had stopped approving arms export licenses to Israel due to political and legal pressure from lawsuits alleging that these German export contracts violated international humanitarian law.

The German Economy Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. However, the German government issued a statement after Reuters published the report.

"Germany is not boycotting arms exports to Israel," said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

In 2023, Germany approved arms exports to Israel worth 326.5 million euros ($363.5 million) including military equipment and weapons of war, a tenfold increase from exports in 2022, according to data from the German Economy Ministry, which approves export licenses in the country.

However, approvals fell in 2024, with arms exports totaling just 14.5 million euros between January and August 21, according to data provided by the German Economy Ministry in response to questions from parliament.

Of which, the weapons category only achieved an export value of 32,449 euros.

In its defence in two cases, one before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and one in Berlin from the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights, the government asserted that no weapons had been approved for export under licences approved from 7 October 2023 onwards, except for weapons exported under long-term contracts approved before then.

Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023. The campaign has also forced most of Gaza's population to flee, leading to a food crisis and genocide accusations at the World Court, which Israel denies.

No lawsuits have been successful against German arms exports to Israel, including one filed by the Nicaraguan government at the ICJ.

Disagreement over arms exports from German government

However, this issue has led to many internal disagreements in the German government, as the German Chancellery continues to support Israel while the Green-dominated Foreign Ministry and the Economy Ministry continuously criticize the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Lawsuits across Europe have also prompted many of Israel's allies to suspend or end arms exports to the country.

This month, the British government revoked 30 of 350 arms export licences to Israel over concerns that Israel may be violating international humanitarian law.

In February 2024, the Dutch Supreme Court ordered the government to stop all exports of F-35 aircraft parts to Israel due to concerns that the aircraft could be used in attacks on civilians in Gaza.

The Biden administration this year suspended – and then restored – some bomb exports to Israel after the US government expressed concern that the weapons could be used against populated areas in Gaza.

The decision to approve the export of other types of weapons used in high-precision systems was made further as US officials continue to insist that Israel needs to be able to defend itself.

Alexander Schwarz, a lawyer at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, which filed the lawsuit against the Berlin government, said the sharp drop in export license approvals in 2024 reflected a real, albeit likely temporary, reluctance to supply arms to Israel.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/duc-da-ngung-phe-duyet-hop-dong-xuat-khau-vu-khi-toi-israel-204240919081818718.htm