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00:03 Report / Lisa Ellis

A number of European countries have begun changing their tone on Israel's Gaza offensive in recent weeks. One of the biggest shifts has been here in Germany with Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying he no longer understood Israel's objectives in Gaza.This added fuel to a debate here over whether Germany should continue to deliver arms to Israel. More on that in a moment but first a look at just how many weapons Berlin supplies- also compared to other countries.

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Israel's offensive in Gaza is being carried out with the help of weapons provided by other countries. The three nations that account for most of the imports are the United States, Germany and Italy.  Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute or SIPRI shows that after the US, Germany is the most important supplier.

((Graphic  
From 2020 to 2024  according to SIPRI, Germany accounted  for 33 percent of imports while the US accounted for around 66 percent  and Italy one percent)) 

Germany mainly provides naval frigates and torpedoes but supplies have also included armoured vehicles, trucks, anti-tank weapons and ammuntion.      

In the wake of the Hamas massacre in October 2023 which triggered Israel's assault, German arms exports to  surged.. after the government in Berlin set up a special committee to expedite deliveries. 

((German arms exports to Israel

2023: 326.5 million Euros
2022:  32.3 million Euros

Source: German Government))

In that year (2023) Germany ended up sending more than  320 million euros worth of military equipment- a ten fold increase on 2022 with the vast majority of licences approved in the three weeks immediately after the attack 

But in 2024  figures declined. 

((German arms exports to Israel

2024: 131 million Euros 

Source: German government ))

..with around 130 million euros worth of licences approved.

This happened as scrutiny of the offensive and Germany's contributions, started to spread. 

In March of that year (2024) Germany was also forced to defend itself before the International Court of Justice after Nicaragua said its provision of military aid to Israel was a  violation of the genocide convention.

But the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has now also prompted  some members of  the junior partner in Germany's governing coalition - the Social Democrats to call for an end  to weapons deliveries on the grounds that Israel is breaking international law. 

The situation of people in Gaza was also recently described as 'unacceptable' by Germany's new conservative foreign minister. 

He underlined Berlin's 'special responsibilty' towards Israel but also said Germany would now have to think very carefully about what further steps to take.

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