Germany approves $930M arms exports to Israel
10:21, 03/09/2026, ThursdayU: Update: 10:42, 03/09/2026, Thursday
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Germany approved nearly €800 million in military equipment exports to Israel during the first six months of the year, according to local media reports on Wednesday, as arms sales surged fourfold following the removal of export restrictions by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government.
Germany's Economy and Energy Ministry disclosed that export licenses for military equipment to Israel reached nearly €800 million ($930 million) during the first half of the year, exceeding four times the 2025 total, according to a parliamentary response reported by Der Spiegel on Wednesday.
Naval projects lead surge
Of the €735.8 million approved during the second quarter, approximately 67% was allocated to the INS Drakon submarine project, an air-independent propulsion vessel built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems that recently departed Kiel for Israel. A further 21% covered joint ventures deemed to serve Bundeswehr strategic interests, while remaining permits included small arms, ammunition and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Restrictions lifted after brief pause
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government imposed the curbs on August 8, 2025, after Israel expanded military operations in Gaza, but lifted them on November 24 following a review. The restrictions remained in force for only three and a half months before the administration resumed large-scale defense approvals.
Opposition cites 'double standards'
Israel's genocide in Gaza has killed at least 73,470 Palestinians and injured 174,540 others since October 2023, according to the enclave's Health Ministry, with most victims being women and children. Approximately 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure has been destroyed in the campaign.
Lea Reisner, the Left Party's spokesperson for international affairs, accused the German government of applying "unlimited double standards" and criticized Berlin for condemning statements targeting civilians by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir while continuing to expand military support. The Left Party renewed its call for an immediate and comprehensive halt to German arms exports to Israel.
Decade of rising military exports
Germany approved €327 million in arms exports to Israel in 2023, €161.1 million in 2024 and €260 million in 2025, marking a tenfold increase in 2023 from the previous year. Berlin has long served as one of Israel's strongest supporters, with German leaders defending that support as a historical responsibility arising from the country's Nazi past.
