Germany has halted new licences for the export of “weapons of war” to Israel amid legal challenges, as reported exclusively by Reuters. In 2024, only $36,150 worth of such licences were issued, marking a significant decline from previous years.
Legal cases alleging violations of humanitarian law have prompted Germany to pause approvals for arms exports to Israel. A lawsuit at the International Court of Justice and another from the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights are currently ongoing.
Nicaragua also lodged a formal application at the ICJ, accusing Germany of complicity in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. This led to demands for emergency measures to stop German arms exports to Israel.
The ripple effect of these legal challenges has been felt across Europe, with the UK suspending 30 arms export licences to Israel over concerns about violations of international humanitarian law.
Ripple effect
In response to these legal challenges and concerns, various countries are reevaluating their arms exports to Israel, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law and human rights standards.
