Germany suspends arms trade with Israel due to plans of total occupation of Gaza
The Israeli premier announced his annexation plan as part of a wider aim to demilitarise the war-torn enclave, free the hostages, and disarm or eliminate Hamas terrorists, paving the way for a transitional authority free of oversight from either Jerusalem or the Palestine Authority.
Netanyahu, some time back said that he was aiming to gain full military control of the enclave. The move has been criticised in both the political and military circles, as potentially putting the remaining captives in danger, as well as lead to more IDF casualties.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stressed that while Berlin supports the Jewish state's struggle 'against Hamas' terror' and prioritises the return of Israeli hostages, it remains unclear how the new military push will achieve those goals.
'Under these circumstances, the German Government will, until further notice, authorise no military equipment exports that can be used in the Gaza Strip,' he said in a statement on the website of the federal government on Friday.
Merz added Berlin is 'profoundly concerned' about the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and that Jerusalem's military entry will only make it more obliged to provide humanitarian aid to Gazans.
The German decision was criticised by Israel, with the Prime Minister's Office stating that Netanyahu called the German leader and expressed 'disappointment with Merz's decision to embargo arms to Israel.'
'Instead of supporting Israel's just war against Hamas,' Berlin is 'rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel,' the office said in a statement on X on Friday.
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