Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explained that Berlin’s decision to halt arms exports to Israel came in response to its plan to expand its operations in the Gaza Strip. In an interview with German public broadcaster ARD, he said, “We cannot provide weapons in a conflict that is currently being waged solely by military means. We want to help diplomatically, and we are doing that.”
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, Merz stated that expanding the scope of Israeli operations in Gaza could lead to severe consequences, including the potential loss of hundreds of thousands of civilian lives and the necessity to evacuate the entire city of Gaza. He questioned the feasibility of such an evacuation, asking, “Where are these people supposed to go?… We cannot do that, we will not do that, and I will not do that.”
The decision by Germany to suspend arms exports is seen as a response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s plans to increase its military presence in the region. This move is considered an unprecedentedly risky step by Germany in its foreign policy approach.
