BERLIN, 01 Oct. - (ANA) - The German government has authorised new arms exports to Israel, following Berlin’s pledge last month to implement partial restrictions on shipments in response to its criticism of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

 

German news agency dpa first reported the revelation, citing a parliamentary inquiry submitted by Left Party politician Ulrich Thoden to the Economy Ministry, in which he pressed the government to clarify which permits had been issued since Merz’s declaration and how the restrictions would be enforced.

 

The ministry's response reportedly revealed that Berlin had approved new arms exports valued at at least €2.46 million (US$2.89 million), with permits granted between 13 and 22 September.

 

According to dpa, the ministry further stated that the exports were not "war weapons" but "other military equipment," representing only a fraction of previously approved exports.

 

The Economy Ministry added that from 8 August, when Merz first announced the export restrictions, to 12 September, no licenses of any kind were granted.

 

The decision was the strongest response yet from Germany, one of Israel's staunchest allies, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move as "rewarding Hamas." 

 

Meanwhile, Thoden's inquiry on the freeze comes after his party previously submitted a query which as a result revealed that Germany had authorised about €251 million in arms exports to Israel between early 2024 and mid-2025. 

 

Berlin's recent resumption of arms exports has since sparked renewed condemnation, with critics saying that Merz had backtracked on his initial pledge that no military goods usable in the Gaza war would be approved for export to Israel.

 

German activist group Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East denounced the act, writing in a post on X, "Another piece of evidence that the so-called arms embargo was nothing but a PR stunt."

 

Left Party parliamentarian and military expert Lea Reisner also issued a statement opposing the renewed exports, accusing the German government of "misleading the public with an alleged delivery freeze while continuing to approve millions of dollars' worth of military equipment for Israel."

 

"This ‘freeze’ is pure eyewash and can be revoked at will at any time," she added. 

 

On Sunday, over 100,000 people marched in Berlin to protest Germany’s support for Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. 

 

The demonstration, called by a coalition of around 50 groups - including Medico International, Amnesty International and the Left Party- demanded an end to German complicity in Israel’s increasingly brutal war and a halt to all military cooperation with Tel Aviv. - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/01 October 2025  - - -