Berlin Court Rejects Petition to Halt German Arms Exports to Israel
Residents of Gaza and Palestinian legal organizations demanded that the German government halt arms exports, citing violations of international humanitarian law. However, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence for such decisions
Dan Arkin
| 17/06/2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz in Israel, 2022. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa via Reuters
A Berlin court last Tuesday rejected an urgent petition filed by Gaza residents, demanding that the German government stop issuing arms export licenses to Israel. The petition was supported by several Palestinian legal organizations.
The Berlin Administrative Court ruled that the petitioners did not prove the existence of decisions to export German arms to Israel, particularly since the government has refrained from granting such export licenses this year. Additionally, there was no indication that the government intends to approve arms supplies that would violate international humanitarian law, according to reports by VOA News and Jurist.
The court further determined that the German government has the right to refuse to grant export licenses or to impose conditions on exports. The petitioners' lawyers argued that the court's decision was incorrect and that the Berlin government keeps arms deals with Israel a secret.
According to a report by Defense News, last year the German government approved arms exports to Israel worth 326 million euros, ten times the amount in 2022.
The petition was also supported by several non-governmental organizations, including the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), and Law for Palestine.
The organizations argued that the German government is violating its legal obligations under the Arms Control Act by allowing arms exports to Israel, which they claim are used to commit violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. This was reported by JURIST and DW.
German Government spokesperson, Christiane Hoffmann, stated that the government is compelled to respond to the legal organizations' allegations and accusations of international law violations. She declared that the government thoroughly examines each request for arms exports, taking into consideration human rights and humanitarian law.
According to journalist Henry Steiner from DW, the German government has denied accusations that it is aiding murder in Gaza. Germany emphasized that it carefully reviews each request for arms exports, taking into account the humanitarian situation in Gaza and human rights. Additionally, the German Ministry of Economy announced an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza by an additional 20 million euros.
Residents of Gaza and Palestinian legal organizations demanded that the German government halt arms exports, citing violations of international humanitarian law. However, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence for such decisions
German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz in Israel, 2022. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa via Reuters
A Berlin court last Tuesday rejected an urgent petition filed by Gaza residents, demanding that the German government stop issuing arms export licenses to Israel. The petition was supported by several Palestinian legal organizations.
The Berlin Administrative Court ruled that the petitioners did not prove the existence of decisions to export German arms to Israel, particularly since the government has refrained from granting such export licenses this year. Additionally, there was no indication that the government intends to approve arms supplies that would violate international humanitarian law, according to reports by VOA News and Jurist.
The court further determined that the German government has the right to refuse to grant export licenses or to impose conditions on exports. The petitioners' lawyers argued that the court's decision was incorrect and that the Berlin government keeps arms deals with Israel a secret.
According to a report by Defense News, last year the German government approved arms exports to Israel worth 326 million euros, ten times the amount in 2022.
The petition was also supported by several non-governmental organizations, including the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), and Law for Palestine.
The organizations argued that the German government is violating its legal obligations under the Arms Control Act by allowing arms exports to Israel, which they claim are used to commit violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. This was reported by JURIST and DW.
German Government spokesperson, Christiane Hoffmann, stated that the government is compelled to respond to the legal organizations' allegations and accusations of international law violations. She declared that the government thoroughly examines each request for arms exports, taking into consideration human rights and humanitarian law.
According to journalist Henry Steiner from DW, the German government has denied accusations that it is aiding murder in Gaza. Germany emphasized that it carefully reviews each request for arms exports, taking into account the humanitarian situation in Gaza and human rights. Additionally, the German Ministry of Economy announced an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza by an additional 20 million euros.
