Germany will resume exporting weapons to Israel, officials from the country announced on Monday.
The decision to start sending weapons to the country comes after a meeting on Sunday between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. One of the key reasons for the pivot in sending weapons was the ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas in October. Weapons will resume being shipped to Israel starting on November 24, according to multiple reports.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently had a good and friendly conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during which they discussed political and regional issues,” read a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office.
Meanwhile, a representative from Germany explained that its government will make decisions on weapons shipments to countries on a “case-by-case” basis.
“The government will, as a general rule, revert to case-by-case reviews in decisions on arms exports and respond to further developments,” said a German government spokesperson.
Israel welcomed the pivot by Merz. It came approximately three months after Merz decided to stop sending weapons to Israel after an escalation of military activity by Israel in Gaza City.
“Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas’ terror,” read a statement from Germany’s government at the time. “The release of the hostages and ambitious negotiations on a ceasefire are our top priorities. The disarmament of Hamas is imperative. Hamas must not be allowed to play a role in Gaza’s future.”
“In the German Government’s view, the new military push by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip agreed by the Israeli security Cabinet last night makes it increasingly unclear how these goals are to be achieved,” noted the statement. “Under these circumstances, the German Government will, until further notice, authorize no military equipment exports that can be used in the Gaza Strip.”
UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE WILL LONG THREATEN GAZANS DESPITE TENUOUS CEASEFIRE
Germany was the second largest importer of weapons to Israel, behind only the United States, according to reports.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar celebrated Germany’s reversal in a post on X on Monday. He called on other governments to follow Germany’s lead, as reported by The Times of Israel.
“I welcome Chancellor Merz’s move to revoke the decision regarding the partial ‘embargo.’” Sa’ar said. “I call on other governments to adopt similar decisions, following Germany.”