The major deals follow a temporary suspension of exports over West Jerusalem’s plans to occupy Gaza
Published 3 Sep, 2026 02:19
FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) at a joint press conference in West Jerusalem, Israel, on December 7, 2025. © Global Look Press / Amos Ben Gershom
The German government approved nearly €800 million ($930 million) in arms exports to Israel between January and June, German weekly Der Spiegel has reported, citing a government response to a parliamentary inquiry. The sum is already four times higher than the total value Berlin greenlighted for West Jerusalem last year.
Around one-fifth of the exports was linked to German-Israeli defense-industry cooperation benefiting the German Armed Forces, according to the government. Just over two-thirds of the approved value is tied to the INS ‘Drakon’, a nearly 70-meter-long Dolphin II-class submarine built for Israel by German shipbuilder TKMS. The vessel, which can remain submerged for weeks, left Kiel on Tuesday and is reportedly on its way to Israel.
Berlin said the remainder covered equipment not classified as “weapons of war,” including small arms, ammunition, explosives and drones, according to Der Spiegel.
The Left Party accused Berlin of “boundless double standards” over the deals. “As [Chancellor] Friedrich Merz was supposedly outraged by [Israeli Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir’s inhumane statements, his federal government was pushing ahead with cooperation with a government and an army facing genocide charges before the International Criminal Court, supporting settler violence in the West Bank, and continuing to occupy southern Lebanon,” the party’s MP, Lea Reisner, said.
The controversial Israeli minister stated last month that he considered the enclave “to be ours” and urged the IDF to carry out dozens of “targeted assassinations” there every night, claiming that some in the Palestinian enclave “are not people.”
Germany’s War Weapons Control Act requires licenses to “always be denied” where weapons risk being used in “peace-disturbing acts” or where Germany’s obligations under international law could be impaired.
Berlin temporarily halted arms exports to Israel in August 2025 over West Jerusalem’s plans to occupy Gaza City, but lifted the restrictions in November after a US-backed ceasefire with Hamas. Israeli forces have since continued operations in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon, where they still occupy parts of the south.
Berlin is meanwhile expanding military cooperation with West Jerusalem. On Wednesday, the German Navy said it had successfully tested an Israeli ballistic missile in the North Atlantic with a range of up to 500 kilometers. Germany has no ballistic missiles of its own, with Taurus cruise missiles being its longest-range missile systems.
Germany’s unwavering support for Israel, which is facing genocide accusations before the International Court of Justice in a case filed by South Africa, has arguably cost Berlin international support, as it failed to secure a seat on the Security Council in June.
