Rights group takes legal action to stop German arms exports to Israel

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - A leading rights group filed a petition Thursday with a German administrative court to stop Germany’s arms exports to Israel.

The Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) said it filed a renewed request for provisional measures with the Frankfurt Administrative Court against German arms exports that could be used in the Gaza Strip.

The German government confirmed last week it resumed military exports to Israel after receiving written assurances from Tel Aviv that it would comply with international law when using German-manufactured weapons.

Dr. Alexander Schwarz, deputy program director for international crimes at ECCHR, said Palestinians deserve the same protection under international law as people in Ukraine or Lebanon.

“The fact that the German government is seeking assurances from Israel that it will not violate international humanitarian law with German weapons shows that Berlin itself fears such violations in Gaza. However, this Israeli declaration of intent is worthless for the Palestinian civilian population and only serves to ease the conscience of the Federal Chancellery,” he said.

ECCHR lawyers underlined in the petition that Germany is obligated under international law to stop arms exports to Israel, as the International Arms Trade Treaty clearly states that no arms exports may be approved if there is an overwhelming risk that they will be used in violation of international law.

The lawyers have said that a plaintiff, who lives in the Gaza Strip lost his wife and daughter in Israeli attacks. “His life and physical safety are endangered by the ongoing attacks,” they said. “The licenses we are contesting enable the supply of further armaments that contribute to this danger. We therefore demand that the Federal Republic of Germany do everything within its power to legally protect the life and limb of our plaintiff.”

Germany started to expand its military exports to Israel in recent months, and approved the sale of €94 million ($101.5 million) in military equipment and weapons in the last three months, according to official figures.

The delivery of weapons which can be used in Gaza was halted in March after Nicaragua brought a case against Germany before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of aiding “genocide” in Gaza.

Germany has long been a key ally of Israel, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz often emphasizing Germany’s special responsibility for Israel’s security because of the country’s Nazi past.

Critics argue, however, that Germany’s unwavering support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is damaging its international credibility and further isolating Berlin on the global stage.

Since Israel began its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza last October, more than 42,700 Palestinians have been killed, and over 100,000 wounded, most of them women and children.

Israel is facing a genocide case at the ICJ for its actions in Gaza, where millions of Palestinians remain displaced and face severe shortages of food, medical supplies and other essentials.