Germany's halt to arms exports to Israel is response to Gaza expansion plans

11/8/2025 7:25

Germany's decision to curb arms exports to Israel comes in response to Israel's plan to expand its operations in the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday in an interview with public broadcaster ARD.



"We cannot deliver weapons into a conflict that is now being pursued exclusively by military means," Merz said. "We want to help diplomatically, and we are doing so."



The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel's plans to expand military control over the enclave have pushed Germany to take this historically fraught step.



The chancellor said in the interview that the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza could claim hundreds of thousands of civilian lives and would require the evacuation of the entire city of Gaza.



"Where are these people supposed to go?" Merz said. "We can't do that, we won't do that, and I will not do that."



Nevertheless, the principles of Germany's Israel policy remain unchanged, the chancellor said.