German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his government’s decision to partially suspend arms exports to "Israel", insisting that Berlin’s overall stance toward the entity remains unchanged despite rising political tensions and shifting public opinion.

Speaking to German broadcaster ARD on Sunday, Merz reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting "Israel’s" security but said the government could not provide weapons for a conflict where “hundreds to thousands” of civilians risk being killed in Gaza.

"We will continue to help this country defend itself," Merz said, "but solidarity does not mean we consider every decision by the Israeli government to be good, or that we support it unconditionally."

This German escalation comes after "Israel’s" War Cabinet announced that it would occupy Gaza City, a plan condemned by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and governments including the UK, France, and Canada, who warn it could worsen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

The new military push agreed by the Israeli security cabinet makes it increasingly unclear how these goals are to be achieved. The German Government will, until further notice, authorise no military equipment exports that can be used in the Gaza Strip. 2/5

— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) August 8, 2025

From unconditional support to a calibrated halt

Germany’s partial arms suspension marks a turning point in a relationship historically defined by the principle of Staatsräson, the idea that "Israel’s" security is a core reason of state for Germany, rooted in its responsibility for the Holocaust. This doctrine, first articulated by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2008, has long underpinned Berlin’s policies toward "Israel".

After October 7, 2023, Germany initially responded with unequivocal political and military backing, approving €326.5 million worth of arms that year, including anti-tank weapons, ammunition, and military vehicles. But as "Israel's" war on Gaza dragged on, and civilian casualties mounted, German public opinion shifted sharply.

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By mid-2025, 57% of Germans held a negative view of "Israel", up from 23% in 2022, and 66% wanted their government to increase diplomatic pressure. Polls also found that 73% of Germans saw “some truth” in characterizing "Israel's" actions in Gaza as genocide.

Protestors in Berlin chant for Palestine as they move the solidarity camp from outside of the German Parliament, following the police orders to dismantle the camp. pic.twitter.com/NzpQA6Pf1U

— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) July 15, 2025

What the partial embargo covers

The August 2025 decision is not a full arms embargo but a targeted halt on weapons that could be used in Gaza operations. 

It is worth noting that export licences for military equipment to "Israel" worth €485 million ($564 million) were granted between October 7, 2023, and May 13, 2025, according to German parliament figures released in June. Much of this included systems that could be affected by the new restrictions.

Political backlash

The decision has divided German politics. Within Merz’s conservative bloc, the Christian Social Union (CSU) accused him of acting unilaterally, while CDU lawmaker Carsten Müller condemned the move as undermining NATO security cooperation. Others, like CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen, have backed the restrictions, calling them “unfortunately inevitable” given "Israel’s" recent policies in Gaza.

The Social Democrats (SPD), Merz’s coalition partners, largely support the partial embargo and have even proposed expanding it to include sanctions against certain Israeli officials.

Netanyahu’s criticism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Merz of having "buckled under pressure" from false media reports and urged him to reverse the decision.

The episode has intensified strains in the historically close partnership, which this year marked its 60th anniversary under the shadow of the Gaza war.

Economic ties remain strong despite tensions

⚡️🇩🇪🇮🇱BREAKING:

German government has issued weapons exports worth almost half a billion [€485,103,796] to Israel since Oct 7 2023.

Source: @derJamesJackson pic.twitter.com/YS9w0KfX62

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 2, 2025

Despite political rifts and the partial arms embargo, Germany remains one of "Israel’s" most important trading partners. In 2024, bilateral trade totaled between $8.2 and $8.9 billion, with Germany exporting $5.81 billion worth of goods to "Israel" and importing $3.1 billion in return.

Germany enjoys a trade surplus of roughly $3.44 billion, supplying "Israel" with industrial goods, machinery, vehicles, and pharmaceuticals, while importing electronics, aircraft components, and optical equipment. It ranks as "Israel’s" third-largest import source globally, after China and the United States.