Overview

• Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Kanzleramtschef Thorsten Frei have reaffirmed that the pause in arms exports does not change Germany’s longstanding commitment to supplying defensive air and naval systems to Israel.
• The export freeze applies solely to weapons that could be deployed in Gaza after Israel’s security cabinet approved an offensive plan for Gaza City on August 8.
• CDU/CSU lawmakers remain split over Merz’s unilateral decision, with surprised CSU leaders calling an August 10 videoconference to air grievances about their exclusion from the decision process.
• SPD figures, led by Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, backed the suspension as a measured response to worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza while maintaining full solidarity with Israel.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Germany of rewarding Hamas and cautioned that the embargo risks undermining bilateral security cooperation.