Berlin, The leadership of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag has opposed a halt to arms deliveries to Israel because of its military action in the Gaza Strip. On Monday, the parliamentary group executive agreed with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) on a common line, according to which “criticism among friends” of Israel should be expressed, said parliamentary manager Steffen Bilger. “What is not on our agenda now, however, are further conclusions regarding, for example, arms deliveries or any sanctions.”
Arms exports worth around 485 million euros
Since the Hamas terrorist attack almost 20 months ago, the German government has approved arms exports worth almost half a billion euros to Israel. From October 7, 2023, to May 13, 2025, the delivery of weapons and military equipment worth 485.1 million euros to Israel was permitted, according to a recent response from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to an inquiry from the Left parliamentary group, which was made available to the German Press Agency. The Israeli army’s military actions in the Gaza Strip and the catastrophic humanitarian situation there have led to calls from the SPD for a halt to arms exports. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) sharply criticized the Israeli government last week but refrained from threatening concrete consequences. Bilger said that the calls for an arms embargo ignore the fact that Israel is threatened not only by shelling from the Gaza Strip, but also by attacks from Yemen and Iran. “It must simply be a given that we continue to support Israel with arms exports.”
Dobrindt: “The reason of state towards Israel is our benchmark”
Similar statements came from the CSU. State group leader Alexander Hoffmann said: “As long as the existence of the State of Israel is threatened, there will be arms deliveries from Germany.” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) also spoke out clearly in favor of continuing arms exports: “The reason of state towards Israel is our benchmark.” In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Wadephul had previously made arms deliveries dependent on a review under international law of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. “Based on this review, we will approve further arms deliveries if necessary,” he said. This caused irritation within the Union Lawsuit at the International Court of Justice There have been discussions about German arms deliveries to Israel for months. A lawsuit by the Latin American country Nicaragua is pending at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Nicaragua has accused Germany of aiding and abetting genocide because of its arms exports. At the end of April 2024, the judges rejected an urgent motion to halt the deliveries. However, they did not comply with Germany’s request to dismiss Nicaragua’s lawsuit entirely. Left Party defense politician Ulrich Thoden called for an immediate halt to all arms deliveries from Germany to Israel. “Otherwise, it could be guilty of aiding and abetting crimes under international law.”
