Germany has halted new exports of weapons of war to Israel due to legal challenges, according to a report by Reuters. The Ministry of Economy has stopped approving export licences for arms to Israel amid pressure from legal cases alleging violations of humanitarian law. However, the German government denies a boycott against Israel, with approvals dropping significantly this year compared to last year.
In response to legal challenges, the German government claims that no weapons of war have been exported to Israel since October 7, except for spares for preexisting contracts. These legal challenges come as Israel faces criticism for its assault on Gaza, which has caused significant casualties and displacement.
The issue has created disagreement within the German government, with the Chancellery supporting Israel while the Greens-led economy and foreign ministries criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration. Similar legal challenges in other European countries have led allies of Israel to pause or suspend arms exports.
In the United Kingdom, 30 out of 350 licences for arms exports to Israel have been suspended, citing concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law. In the Netherlands, exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel have been halted over concerns about civilian targets in Gaza.
The Biden administration in the US has also paused shipments of bombs to Israel, but later resumed them with a focus on more precise systems. Despite the legal challenges and political pressure, some experts believe the decline in approvals for arms exports to Israel may be temporary and not a change in policy.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com