Germany imposes partial arms embargo on Israel over Gaza City occupation plan
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Germany announced Friday that it will impose a partial arms embargo on Israel in response to the Israeli cabinet's decision to approve a new offensive to occupy Gaza City.
Why it matters: This is an unprecedented move by Israel's closest ally in Europe and its second most important international partner after the United States.
- It represents a wider trend in which many of Israel's Western allies are distancing themselves from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
- "Netanyahu's cabinet is losing Europe — totally. We stand with Israel, but not with the policy of the Israeli government," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told Axios.
Driving the news: On Thursday night, Israel's Security Cabinet approved Netanyahu's proposal for the occupation of Gaza City. That's the first phase in a new offensive that could ultimately involve the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces.
- The decision, which came after more than 10 hours of consultations in the Security Cabinet, was made against the recommendation of IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Eyal Zamir.
- It sparked immediate condemnations across Europe and the Arab world. However, President Trump has decided not to intervene and to let the Israeli government make its own decisions, U.S. officials say.
- The IDF is expected to issue eviction orders ahead of the new offensive to around 1 million Palestinians who are located in Gaza City and its immediate surroundings, Israeli officials said.
- "The goal is to evacuate all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to the central camps and other areas in the Gaza strip by October 7. A siege will be imposed on the Hamas militants who remain in Gaza City, and at the same time, a ground offensive will be carried out in Gaza City," a senior Israeli official told Axios.
What they are saying: On Friday, hours after the Israeli decision, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a statement announcing a partial arms embargo on Israel.
- Merz said the Israeli offensive "makes it increasingly difficult to see" how a ceasefire, a release of hostages and the disarming of Hamas can be achieved.
- "Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice," Merz said.
- He stressed that with the plan for the new offensive, the Israeli government "bears even greater responsibility" for the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also called on Netanyahu to reverse the decision. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and other Arab countries condemned it as well.
The other side: Netanyahu spoke with Merz after the decision, his office said in a statement.
- "Instead of supporting Israel's just war against Hamas, which carried out the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel," the statement said.
What to watch: Of the major European powers, Germany had been the least willing to impose penalties on Israel over its actions in Gaza up to now. Friday's decision could pave the way for further sanctions inside the EU.
- One step that is being considered is to suspend Israel from the high-tech section of the EU's "Horizon" program, which gives research grants to start-ups. Germany and Italy had been blocking but might agree to it now, European diplomats say.
- Veldkamp told Axios that the Netherlands is also pushing to suspend the EU-Israeli free trade agreement in response to the expansion of the war in Gaza.
