Germany Halts Arms Sales to Israel Amid Qatar Deals

Germany has effectively ceased arms sales to Israel while continuing to supply weapons to Qatar, despite Chancellor Olaf Scholz's public declarations of support for Israel. Reports indicate that since March 2023, no arms export approvals to Israel have been granted, with only a fraction of requests being fulfilled amid internal conflicts within the German government. In contrast, Germany has approved over 100 million euros worth of military supplies to Qatar, a nation criticized for its support of Hamas. The decline in arms sales to Israel has been stark, dropping from over 300 million euros in 2023 to just 14 million in 2024. This situation has raised concerns about the implications for Israel's military needs amid ongoing conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah. Additionally, German officials have indicated compliance with International Criminal Court warrants against Israeli leaders, further complicating diplomatic relations.