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Berlin halted weapons supplies to West Jerusalem over its campaign in Gaza in August
Germany will resume its arms exports to Israel starting November 24, the government deputy spokesman, Sebastian Hille, told journalists on Monday. The deliveries were suspended in August when West Jerusalem announced its plans to occupy Gaza City as part of its military campaign against Hamas.
According to Hille, the situation on the ground has since “stabilized,” with a US-backed ceasefire in force since October 10. The official refused to provide any comments on whether Germany, the second-largest exporter of arms to Israel after the US, could reintroduce the restrictions again if the situation changes.
The spokesman also refused to provide any comments on whether any deliveries requested by Israel were cancelled or delayed at the time when the restrictions were in place.
When asked if Berlin is aware of any violations of the ceasefire regime or the international humanitarian law by Israel, Hille said that the government is “monitoring” the situation on the ground and is “in constant dialogue with the parties involved” but has “no information” on any possible violations.
His words came just days after Israel’s security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, claimed that the Palestinian people have never existed and the nation was just “an invention without any historical, archaeological, or factual basis.” Last week, Reuters also reported that the Israeli military was sending Palestinian civilians into Hamas tunnels that they knew might be rigged with explosives during their campaign in Gaza.
Berlin’s Monday decision was welcomed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who urged other nations to “adopt similar decisions” in a post on X. It also drew some criticism at home, with Lea Reisner, the Left Party’s spokesperson for international relations, calling it “fatal and completely irresponsible.”
Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce. At least 245 Palestinians have been killed in IDF strikes in Gaza over the past month, according to local officials.
West Jerusalem launched its military campaign in the Palestinian enclave in response to a Hamas surprise attack in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 others taken hostage in October 2023. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authorities, the campaign has left at least 68,000 Palestinians dead.
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