Germany will continue to sell arms to Israel despite it chancellor condemning the latest Gaza offensive as “no longer justified”, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed on Wednesday.
“Germany will continue to support the State of Israel, including with arms deliveries,” the Wadephul told members of the Bundeswehr, the German parliament, according to local news agency DPA.
The minister, a member of the ruling centre-right Christian Democratic Union, warned last week that Germany may be forced to take “further steps” if Jerusalem continues to pursue its goal of destroying Hamas in Gaza.
“Our full support for the right to exist and the security of the State of Israel must not be instrumentalised for the conflict and the warfare currently being waged in the Gaza Strip,” Wadephul told reporters.
“We are now at a point where we have to think very carefully about what further steps to take,” he declared.
The policy would seemingly contradict comments by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who last week said he "no longer understands" Israel's goals in the Strip during the WDR Europaforum conference in Berlin.
"To cause such suffering to the civilian population, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas terrorism," he stated.
His comments were particularly pertinent given Germany’s longstanding support for Israel. The doctrine of Staaträson (meaning a state’s reason to exist), which mandates support for Israel’s security, enshrined in its foreign policy.
And, three days later, Wadephul said Germany would be “examining whether what is happening in the Gaza Strip is compatible with international humanitarian law.” He added: “Further arms deliveries will be authorised based on the outcome of that review.”
Asked by the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper whether this could lead to a partial suspension of exports, he replied: “That’s what the wording implies.”
Now, though, it appears that an arms embargo has been taken off the table, with the foreign minister committing to the continuation of weapons sales.
The confusion comes amid increasing condemnation of Israel from its traditional allies in Europe as a result of the latest push to destroy Hamas.
Last month, the UK suspended negotiations for a trade deal with Israel over the operation in Gaza and introduced a raft of new sanctions on West Bank settlers.
And Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer indicated at PMQs this week that more sanctions could be on the way if Israel does not change course.
Elsewhere, France has stated that it aims to announce its formal recognition of a Palestinian state at a join conference with Saudi Arabia later this month.
