Official announcements from the German Economy Ministry or relevant authorities

UK Suspends 30 Arms Licenses, Germany Halts Exports to Israel Since March 2024

Sep 18, 2024, 04:46 PM

The UK and Germany have recently taken significant actions regarding arms exports to Israel amidst ongoing concerns about the conflict in Gaza. The UK has suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, citing credible claims of mistreatment of detainees and the risk of items being used to violate international law. This suspension has raised questions about the RAF using information gained through torture and the exclusion of the F-35 programme. Meanwhile, Germany has halted the approval of new arms export permits to Israel since March 2024 due to legal challenges and concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law. Germany's decision has been confirmed by multiple sources, including a Reuters analysis and a source close to the German Economy Ministry. This move comes despite public declarations of support for Israel by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The suspension includes both offensive and defensive weapons, marking a significant shift in Germany's arms export policy towards Israel.