Berlin, 08.08.2025 – The Jewish association WerteInitiative is deeply concerned about the export freeze ordered by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on all armaments “that could be used in the Gaza Strip”.
The coalition agreement and all fundamental political promises made by leading German politicians accord the highest priority to Israel’s security. An export freeze which explicitly also covers air and missile defence systems runs counter to this promise at the most unfavourable moment imaginable. As yet no third force is prepared to take on an ordering function in Gaza. For the time being, only Israel can take this on. The declaration by Prime Minister Netanyahu that no annexation of the Gaza Strip is intended is an important clarification in this context. In view of today’s threats against Israel by Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, the representative of Iran’s religious leader Ali Khamenei in the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the export freeze appears in every respect almost grotesque.
Elio Adler, Chairman of WerteInitiative: “Anyone who restricts Israel’s defensive capability does not only weaken it in factual terms. He also signals to Israel’s enemies a serious break with the Jewish state. Chancellor Merz moreover still owes an explanation of how the step now announced can help the hostages still remaining in Gaza – including the German ones – to be released. We therefore call on the CDU/CSU to correct this dangerous wrong turn.”
While Israel is being weakened defensively, aid supplies continue to flow into the Gaza Strip – without effective end-use controls. This despite the documented systematic theft and misuse by Hamas. Such double standards endanger not only Israeli but also Palestinian civilians.
