AFP) On Friday, Germany announced it would halt arms sales to Israel that might be used in Gaza, as European and Arab nations condemned the Israeli cabinet’s decision to launch a full-scale takeover of Gaza City after nearly two years of conflict with Hamas.
The decision by the Israeli cabinet went against warnings from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which cautioned that escalating the fighting could put the remaining hostages in Gaza at greater risk and worsen the humanitarian crisis.
This planned assault on Gaza City has drawn sharp criticism from Israel’s opposition parties and families of hostages, alongside widespread international rebuke from the United Nations, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and other nations.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump stated that the decision to occupy all of Gaza was up to Israel. However, following Israel’s cabinet decision, US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged on Friday that Washington and Jerusalem have “some disagreement” over how the war in Gaza is being conducted, despite sharing the same overall goals.
During a visit to the UK, when asked by reporters about the Israeli cabinet’s move, Vance emphasized that the US administration’s primary aims remain preventing Hamas from attacking civilians and addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
“We have many shared goals, but there are differences in opinion about the best way to achieve them,” Vance explained.
“We’re not going to know exactly how to solve a very complicated problem… If it was easy to bring peace to that region of the world, it would have been done already,” the US vice president added.
Pressed on whether the US agrees with the UK plan to recognize a Palestinian state, Vance indicated that the UK has the right to make its own decision on the matter. However, he reiterated that the US will not be following suit.
In a significant policy shift, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that “the German government will not authorize any military equipment exports that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice.”
Merz, noting that Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States, affirmed Israel’s right to disarm Hamas and secure the release of the remaining 50 hostages. However, he expressed concern that Israel’s recent decision “makes it increasingly challenging to see how these objectives can be met.”
Germany’s top priorities remain the release of hostages, advancing ceasefire talks, and reducing civilian suffering in Gaza, Merz stated. He also called on the Israeli government to refrain from any further moves toward annexing parts of the West Bank.
On Friday, Merz spoke with Netanyahu by phone, during which the Israeli Prime Minister conveyed his disappointment over Germany’s decision, according to an official Israeli statement.
Echoing a common defense used by Israeli officials against international criticism of the war, Netanyahu argued that Germany’s move amounted to “rewarding Hamas terrorism.”
Netanyahu also emphasized that Israel’s objective is not a permanent occupation of Gaza but to remove Hamas from power so that “a peaceful government can be established there,” according to a statement from his office.
Germany’s historically strong support for Israel, rooted in post-Holocaust commitment, has been severely tested by the rising death toll and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leading to growing calls from the German public for government intervention.
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that Germany accounted for 30% of Israel’s major arms imports between 2019 and 2023, mainly naval assets like the Sa’ar 6-class frigates (MEKO A-100 Light Frigates), which have been deployed in the Gaza conflict.
As global criticism intensified, Netanyahu took to Twitter, stating in English, “We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.”
For legal reasons related to Israel’s responsibility for civilian affairs in Gaza, the operation was described as a “takeover” rather than an outright occupation, according to the Ynet news site. However, citing a senior Israeli official who wished to remain anonymous, the outlet noted that this distinction is largely formal, as the decision effectively entails full military control. The conquest is expected to halt if a hostage agreement is reached, the report added.
Additionally, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly warned during the cabinet meeting that the operation could make Israel responsible for providing services to the entire Palestinian population in Gaza. Until now, Israel has maintained that the United Nations and aid agencies bear responsibility for these services, as Israel lacks effective control over Gaza. However, this stance could change once Gaza City comes under Israeli military control.
