Germany Suspends Military Exports to Israel Amid Escalating Gaza Conflict

Israeli security cabinet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Berlin – Germany has announced a suspension of military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. This decision, declared by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, comes in response to Israel's escalating military operations and its recently approved plan to take control of Gaza City.

Chancellor Merz stated that Israel's decision to intensify military actions in the Gaza Strip makes it "increasingly difficult" to see how goals such as disarming Hamas and securing the release of Israeli hostages can be achieved. Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorise any new exports of military equipment potentially usable in Gaza until further notice. While Germany is considered one of Israel's closest defence partners in Europe, this halt does not constitute a full arms embargo, and exports of systems unrelated to the Gaza campaign, such as missile defence, may continue. Merz also expressed "deep concern" over the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza and cautioned Israel against steps towards annexing the West Bank. Between October 7, 2023, and May 13, 2025, Germany had already issued licenses for military equipment exports to Israel totalling 485 million euros.

Israel Approves Plan to Control Gaza City

Concurrently, on August 8, 2025, Israel's security cabinet approved a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take military control of Gaza City. This decision was made amidst widespread international criticism regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and in the context of expanding military operations.

The plan, approved by a majority vote, outlines five key objectives for defeating Hamas and concluding the conflict:

• Disarming Hamas.

• Returning all hostages, including the bodies of those deceased.

• Demilitarising the Gaza Strip.

• Establishing Israeli security control over the territory.

• Creating an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.

While the immediate focus is on Gaza City, Netanyahu has indicated that Israel intends to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip, though he clarified that Israel does not wish to retain or govern the territory, instead seeking to transfer its administration to Arab forces. The plan specifies that Palestinians will be given until October 7, 2025, to evacuate Gaza City. The Israeli military currently states it controls about 75% of Gaza, while the UN estimates that approximately 87% of the territory is either a militarised zone or under evacuation orders.

Widespread Opposition and Humanitarian Concerns

This escalation has met with significant opposition both internationally and within Israel. The United Nations has warned that a complete military takeover would risk "catastrophic consequences" for civilians and Israeli hostages, stating that such a plan would be against international law.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Israel's decision "wrong," urging reconsideration. He stated that this action would "do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages" and would "only bring more bloodshed". Other nations, including Australia, Finland, and Turkey, have also condemned the plan.

Within Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid described the decision as a "disaster," suggesting hardline ministers were pushing the Prime Minister towards actions desired by Hamas. The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, reportedly opposed Netanyahu's proposal, citing that it would endanger the remaining hostages, strain Israeli forces, and exacerbate humanitarian and sanitary concerns.

Hamas, the Palestinian armed group, responded to Netanyahu's statements by accusing him of "sacrificing" the remaining Israeli hostages for "his personal interests" and pursuing a strategy of "genocide and displacement". However, US President Donald Trump stated that taking over Gaza was "really up to Israel".

The conflict, which began with Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel's military operations have reportedly killed over 60,000 Palestinians. The territory faces mass deprivation, a high risk of famine, and a severe increase in acute malnutrition among children, with nearly 12,000 children under five affected in July alone. Most of Gaza's population has been displaced multiple times, with the vast majority now residing in areas under or subject to evacuation orders.