Prime Minister Spokesperson Sebastian Hille told reporters on Monday that arms export restrictions will be lifted on November 24, according to Al Jazeera.
“Since October 10, there has been a ceasefire in Gaza, and Gaza has basically stabilized,” Hille said, citing the ceasefire as “the basis for this decision.”
“We expect everyone to abide by the agreements reached, including the continuation of the ceasefire, the provision of large-scale humanitarian assistance, and the continued implementation of the process in an orderly manner as agreed,” it added.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had announced the restrictions in August after Israel’s cabinet decided to proceed with a brutal operation to seize and destroy Gaza City, the besieged enclave’s largest urban center.
Germany, one of the largest arms exporters to Israel, has staunchly supported the Israeli government despite the attack on Gaza, which leading rights experts have described as genocide.
On Monday, Mr. Hille, the German government representative, did not provide details about the type or quantity of weapons and equipment Berlin is providing to Israel, or whether any had actually been stored in the past few months.
He said Germany would continue to consider military exports to Israel on a case-by-case basis, similar to Berlin’s standard practice for all countries.
However, despite claims of a stable ceasefire, Israel continues to carry out deadly attacks in the Gaza Strip on an almost daily basis. It also continues to restrict aid and temporary housing to Gaza, sustaining a dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by wet weather conditions.
In addition to supporting Israel politically and militarily, Germany cracks down on critics at home, regularly detaining protesters against the Gaza massacre and banning events supporting Palestinians.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was quick to praise Germany’s decision to lift arms restrictions on Israel on Monday.
“We urge other governments to follow Germany’s lead and make similar decisions,” Saar wrote to X.
At the time of the suspension in August, Israel strongly opposed the decision, using the familiar refrain that such measures “reward terrorism.”
Berlin has repeatedly emphasized Israel’s “right to defend itself.”
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany provided 30% of Israel’s major arms imports from 2019 to 2023.
Military assets exported by Germany mainly included naval equipment, such as the Saar 6-class frigate used in the attack on Gaza.
In a poll published in September, 62% of German respondents said they believed Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to genocide.
MNA