Overview
- Officials said licensing will revert to case-by-case decisions, with approvals calibrated to further developments such as humanitarian access and diplomatic progress.
- In early August, Chancellor Friedrich Merz halted approvals for equipment that could be used in Gaza, a policy that in practice produced zero permits between Aug. 8 and Sept. 12, according to an economy ministry reply.
- Israeli leaders welcomed the decision, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar urging other governments to take similar steps.
- The announcement followed recent high-level contacts, including a conversation between Merz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and meetings between foreign ministers.
- Germany remains a key supplier to Israel, with SIPRI data indicating roughly 30–33 percent of Israel’s major arms imports in recent years came from Germany.