Israel hopes Germany will ease arms ban following Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar held talks with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, as part of discussions on approving an agreement to end the ongoing conflict.

According to Israeli media outlet Ynet, during the conversation, Saar requested that Germany lift restrictions on arms exports to Israel. 

Israel hopes that Berlin will respond positively to the request and decide to ease the restrictions once the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip comes into effect, Ynet writes.

Germany had previously suspended all military exports to Israel that could be used in Gaza following Israel’s security cabinet approval of a plan to take over Gaza City.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the suspension on August 8, shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the security cabinet had voted in favour of the plan.

Between October 2023 and May 2025, Germany issued arms export licenses to Israel worth 485 million euros ($564 million), making it one of Israel’s key military suppliers, according to German parliamentary data.

From 2020 to 2024, Germany accounted for roughly a third of Israel’s arms imports, providing equipment that included armoured vehicles, trucks, anti-tank weapons, and ammunition.

By Tamilla Hasanova