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Merz defends arms ban to Israel: A controversial power play!
On August 10, 2025, Chancellor Merz announced a stop to arms exports to Israel and reacted to the Gaza offensive.
Merz defends arms ban to Israel: A controversial power play!
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is currently causing a stir with his decision to temporarily stop arms exports to Israel. How Radio Herford reports, Merz emphasizes that the principles of Germany's Israel policy remain unchanged. Germany continues to see its responsibility to support Israel in its defense, but it cannot supply weapons in a conflict that causes many civilian casualties.
This decision was made on August 8th and is a response to the Israeli government's planned offensive in the Gaza Strip. Merz spoke out and explained that although Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas' terror, it also bears responsibility for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The reactions to this step are diverse and range from approval to sharp criticism Deutschlandfunk determines.
Heated discussions within the political landscape
The decision to stop arms deliveries led to a storm of indignation within the CDU and CSU. Merz himself admits that he is not solely responsible for the decision, but the CSU's criticism is unmistakable. This accuses him of not having sufficiently coordinated the issue internally. The foreign policy experts from the CDU and CSU will therefore meet on August 10th to discuss the controversial situation. The SPD is also divided in this debate: while it supports the restrictions, it also emphasizes solidarity with Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticized the federal government and claimed that it was rewarding terrorism. In addition, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UN Secretary General António Guterres are also concerned about the situation in Gaza and are calling on Israel to reconsider its military measures, underlining the importance of this decision.
Facts and figures on arms exports
The restrictions that have now been decided particularly affect anti-tank weapons and ammunition that could be used in the Gaza Strip. In the past, however, Germany delivered military equipment worth over 485 million euros to Israel from October 2023 to May 2025. These arms exports are significant as they account for about 30% of Israel's military imports, such as daily news reported.
Critics of this decision, including the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the German-Israeli Society, describe the arms export ban as disappointing and an advantage for Hamas in the propaganda war. At the same time, the political discussion calls for Germany to exert active pressure on the Israeli government in order to defuse the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
In summary, Merz's decision is not without consequences. It is being followed closely both within German politics and internationally. The coming days and discussions will have to clarify how relations between Germany and Israel will continue and what measures can still be expected.