Reports indicate Germany is considering limiting commerce and weapon sales due to the situation in Gaza.
Bloomberg reported that Germany is reassessing its economic and military relationship with Israel. This “surprising” shift from one of Israel’s most reliable European allies is driven by the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and growing unease in Berlin regarding Israel’s actions.
According to Bloomberg, “German anger” intensified in mid-May as Israel increased its operations against Hamas while hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Germany has traditionally viewed the protection of Israel as a moral imperative stemming from the Holocaust. It has been a major supplier of arms to Israel and a significant trading partner.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated last week, in what was considered Germany’s first public statement of its kind since the conflict began 20 months ago, that the humanitarian situation was “no longer justified by a fight against Hamas terrorism.”
In a recent phone conversation, Merz urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately allow “sufficient humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.”
Julien Barnes-Dacey of the European Council on Foreign Relations told Bloomberg: “This is a real marker of how things have moved. It’s simply become impossible for most European governments to continue supporting Israel’s war despite strong ongoing commitments to Israel’s security.”
Israel has faced long-standing accusations of committing war crimes by obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza, including a complete blockade after October 7, 2023, and persistent restrictions on the entry of essential supplies like food, fuel, and medicine. While the Israeli government asserts these measures are necessary to prevent supplies from reaching Hamas, critics argue they have a devastating impact on civilians.
Germany’s changing stance reflects broader dissatisfaction across Europe. The UK, France, and the Netherlands are also considering restricting trade and arms sales to Israel. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated in May that there is “a strong majority” within the EU in favor of re-evaluating the EU-Israel trade agreement. The EU is Israel’s largest trade partner, with $47 billion in goods traded last year, according to IMF figures.
Last week, Israel initiated a new aid distribution system via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an initiative backed by the US and Israel. However, this effort has already faced criticism due to incidents where Palestinians seeking aid have been killed. On Tuesday, Palestinian health officials and witnesses reported that at least 27 people died near an aid distribution site in Rafah. The Israeli military stated that troops fired on individuals who had deviated from designated routes and posed a potential threat.
Israel asserts that its military actions are necessary to defeat Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages taken during the October 7 attack, which resulted in 1,200 deaths. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 54,000 Palestinians have died since the beginning of the war.
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