BERLIN — Germany has not approved any new arms exports to Israel since Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a partial halt this summer, bringing the number of permits down to zero and going further in practice than his pledge suggested.
In early August, Merz said Germany would no longer issue licenses for weapons “clearly usable in Gaza.” The wording implied that other types of exports, such as spare parts or systems not tied directly to the fighting, might still move forward.
But in a written reply obtained by POLITICO to a parliamentary inquiry by parliamentarian Ulrich Thoden, the economy ministry confirmed that between Aug. 8 and Sept. 12, no licenses of any kind were granted. Germany’s dpa press agency first reported on the inquiry.
The reply makes clear there is a discrepancy. While the chancellor presented the measure as a targeted restriction, the result so far has been a broader freeze, suggesting that ministries are erring on the side of caution and holding back approvals.
Thoden, a member of The Left group, raised the issue in a formal parliamentary question, asking what permits had been granted since Merz’s pledge and how Berlin would enforce the restriction. His request asked the government to provide a full breakdown of permits by date, quantity and weapon type.
Germany has long counted itself among Israel’s key defense partners in Europe. The disclosure follows an earlier inquiry from the same far-left party that revealed Germany had approved arms exports to Israel worth about €251 million between early 2024 and mid-2025.
The decision has triggered debate at home. Some in Merz’s own conservative bloc say limiting exports undermines Germany’s credibility as a partner, while others — especially in the opposition — argue it doesn’t go far enough because previously approved licenses remain untouched.
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