Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Three injured reported in explosion.
Israeli media citing occupation police: Preliminary reports of car bomb in Jaffa, ambulances rushing to vicinity.
Israeli media: One soldier killed, 11 wounded during the security incident in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, and the fate of the 4 soldiers remains unknown
Israeli media: IOF withdraw from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood
Israeli media: Face-to-face clashes with machine guns between Hamas and Israeli forces in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City
Israeli media: Helicopters sent to evacuate troops from Al-Zaytoun are under heavy fire
Israeli media: A new security incident at an additional location in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City
Israeli media: Search for 4 missing soldiers in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.
Israeli media platform: In the second incident, two injured people were transported from Gaza, and we are awaiting the authorities to notify the families to provide additional details shortly
Israeli media platform: 3 security incidents reported in Gaza

Merz arms export halt to 'Israel' sparks rift in German coalition

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Aug 2025 00:00
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Merz had in recent weeks faced mounting criticism for his  reluctance to join a  statement by dozens of Western countries condemning the "inhumane killing" of Palestinians.

Listen
  • x
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks during a debate about the budget 2025 at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks during a debate about the budget 2025 at the German parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, July 9, 2025 (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Germany's governing coalition is under strain after Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the suspension of military export permits to "Israel" for equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip, Bild reported Friday.

The Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was not consulted beforehand and only learned of the decision after it was made. The omission has fueled friction, particularly as the CSU maintains close ties with "Israel." Senior CSU figures, including Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, have long cooperated closely with the Israeli regime. In July, Dobrindt met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pledged Germany's full support.

Bild sources say Merz, under pressure from the Social Democrats and amid rapid developments in Gaza, acted decisively. Although Berlin had already halted direct arms deliveries to "Israel" since the war began, it was still supplying components such as tank engine parts.

Merz had in recent weeks faced mounting criticism for his reluctance to join a statement by dozens of Western countries condemning the "inhumane killing" of Palestinians, drawing ire from coalition partners in the SPD who believe Germany should have signed the joint declaration. Critics, however, argue that this late decision does not absolve him of earlier inaction, nor does it erase Germany’s failure to take a principled stance during key moments of the Gaza crisis.

Gaza occupation

Related News

Infant dies of hunger as 21 killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes in 24h

Fierce resistance ambushes target IOF in al-Zaytoun, Gaza City

The announcement came as Netanyahu declared plans to seize control of the entire Gaza Strip, remove roughly one million Palestinians from Gaza City, and transfer authority to a new "civilian administration" excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The operation includes forced evacuation by October 7, a siege on remaining fighters, and a ground assault.

Netanyahu said it would dismantle Hamas, secure the return of captives, and place Gaza under Israeli "security control" to prevent future attacks, while promising a temporary occupation and humanitarian aid outside combat zones.

Critics argue these assurances are hollow given "Israel's" record of indefinite military presence in occupied territories and its ongoing blockade of Gaza.

Global Outrage

The plan has drawn sharp international criticism. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged "Israel" to reverse the takeover, calling it "wrong" and counterproductive. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk demanded its suspension, warning it undermines the Palestinian right to self-determination. Turkey's senior presidential adviser Burhanettin Duran denounced the offensive as "outright genocide" and urged global action.

Read more: US Envoy Huckabee slams UK over PM Starmer's Gaza takeover criticism

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour called it a blatant violation of international law and a rejection of global consensus. "This escalation by the Israeli government is in total contradiction with the will of the international community, international law, and common sense, and, I even dare to say, against the wish of the majority of the people inside Israel," Mansour told reporters at UN headquarters on Friday. "We need all of us collectively to prevail, to stop this insanity and to allow peace to be the option of war and the continuation of the suffering."

Hamas has also rejected the move, calling it a sign that negotiations have been abandoned in favor of cementing permanent Israeli military control.

Humanitarian agencies warn that mass displacement and a siege will deepen Gaza's crisis, where severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies have already pushed the enclave toward famine and systemic collapse.

  • Gaza Strip
  • military exports
  • Friedrich Merz
  • Gaza genocide
  • Germany
  • Gaza takeover
  • Christian Social Union
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks (Photo by Mahdi Rtail)

Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025
Although it does seem likely they will launch some kind of operation in northern Gaza, one which will accelerate its mass murder of civilians, but will fail to achieve its stated objectives. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Here is why the Israeli occupation of Gaza won’t work

  • Opinion
  • 26 Aug 2025
A scene showing an al-Qassam Brigades fighter during an ambush on July 7, 2025, in a video released by the al-Qassam Brigades on August 26, 2025 (al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

Al-Qassam reveals Beit Hanoun ambush targeting Israeli forces

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Global Sumud flotilla sets sail to break blockade on Gaza
Palestine

Global Sumud flotilla, largest yet, to set sail bound for Gaza

A Palestinian flag flies next to a Slovenian, center, and a European Union flag, right, at the government building in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Thursday, May 30, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Slovenia mulls entry ban for Israeli PM Netanyahu

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during a joint news conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Turkey severs 'Israel' trade ties, closes airspace to Israeli aircraft

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships mear Caribbean
Latin America

Maduro vows Venezuela is 'impenetrable' as US warships near Caribbean

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS