Germany conditions arms aid to 'Israel' not be used against civilians
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Under Germany's War Weapons Control Act, the government is required to ensure that delivered arms are not used to target civilians.
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Palestinians react to a fire after an Israeli strike hit a tent area in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, on October 14, 2024. (AP)
Senior German officials prevented the sale of weapons to "Israel", even though Berlin maintained that it was not subject to an arms embargo, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to Politico.
According to Bild, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock—Green Party members in a coalition with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats—have delayed approval for arms exports in the council until they receive assurances from "Israel" that German weapons will not be used in genocidal acts.
“Arms deliveries to Israel are about compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law,” the person familiar with the matter said, adding that “the reason for requesting such a commitment is that a German administrative court could otherwise put a stop to it.”
Under Germany's War Weapons Control Act, the government is required to ensure that delivered arms are not used to target civilians.
On that note, several lawsuits have already been filed against Germany to halt arms exports. “This danger is justified and must be addressed,” the source said.
'Recorded drop in arms aid to Israel'
Amid the devastation in the coastal strip, the Gaza Health Ministry reported on Monday that the death toll has reached 42,289.
Despite the government's claim that there is no arms embargo against "Israel", approvals for arms sales have drastically declined this year.
From January to August 21, Germany approved only €14.5 million in arms exports, with just 2 percent classified as “war weapons” and the remaining 98 percent comprising “other military equipment,” such as helmets, protective vests, and communications gear.
That said, it is worth pointing out that Berlin has not authorized any exports of war weapons to "Israel" since March.
Scholz informed lawmakers on Thursday in the Bundestag that deliveries would soon be resumed. “We have supplied weapons and … we have made decisions within the government that will ensure further deliveries in the near future," he said.
EU stance in favor of an arms embargo
Berlin's caution follows legal challenges faced by several European governments regarding weapons deliveries to "Israel", as well as decisions to limit such shipments.
In a similar vein, French President Emmanuel Macron urged last week for a suspension of weapon deliveries intended for use in Gaza, though he later retracted his statement. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez voiced a similar appeal on Friday.
The United Kingdom has suspended certain arms sales to "Israel", while the US has paused deliveries of a specific type of heavy bomb. Nonetheless, both countries assisted "Israel" in intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles earlier this month.
Over the weekend, the US announced it is deploying an advanced missile defense system to "Israel", along with several soldiers to operate it.
Earlier this year, a Dutch court halted the export of components for F-35 jet fighters to "Israel" due to concerns that the aircraft were being used to target civilians.
