Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The German government announced Monday that it will lift the restrictions it imposed in August on arms exports to Israel, reversing a policy introduced amid concerns that German-made weapons could be used in military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Government spokesperson Sebastian Hille told reporters that the restrictions will be officially lifted on November 24, 2025. He said that future arms export requests from Israel will be treated as “individual decisions based on case-by-case assessments,” aligning Israel with the process applied to other countries.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz had initially justified the August decision as a response to the Israeli government’s declared plans at the time to intensify its military campaign in Gaza. On Monday, Hille said that Berlin had always intended to reassess the policy in light of developments on the ground.
“Since October 10, there has been a cease-fire in Gaza, which has largely held,” he noted. “This forms the basis for the decision” to resume arms exports. He added that Germany expects all parties to uphold the agreements reached, including maintaining the cease-fire and ensuring the delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the move, writing on X that he “appreciates Chancellor Merz’s decision to overturn the partial ‘ban.’” Sa’ar urged other governments to follow Germany’s example.
Germany has long been seen as one of Israel’s staunchest supporters, driven partly by its historical responsibility for the Holocaust. But in recent months, Merz has been openly critical of Israeli policies, reflecting a significant shift in German public opinion. Many Germans have expressed concern over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with a September poll showing that 62 percent of respondents believe Israel’s conduct amounts to genocide.
The lifting of the restrictions marks a recalibration of German policy at a time of domestic debate and international scrutiny. As the Gaza cease-fire continues to hold, Berlin is signaling a willingness to return to its traditional stance toward Israel, while maintaining that adherence to humanitarian commitments will remain a key expectation.
