Germany has paused new arms exports to Israel due to legal challenges, according to a Reuters analysis of data and a source close to the Economy Ministry.
Last year, Germany approved weapons exports to Israel worth 326.5 million euros ($363.5 million), a ten-fold increase from 2022, according to data from the Economy Ministry, which approves export licenses.
However, export approvals have dropped this year, with only 14.5 million euros’ worth granted from January to August 21, according to the same data.
Of this, the “weapons of war” category accounted for only 32.449 euros.
A source close to the ministry, citing a senior government official, confirmed that the approval of arms export licenses to Israel has been halted, pending the resolution of legal cases that argue such exports from Germany violate humanitarian law.
The ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
In its defense against two legal cases—one in Berlin brought by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and one before the International Court of Justice—the government stated that no “weapons of war” have been exported under any license since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, except for spare parts related to long-term contracts, the source added.
