Germany will halt its export of military equipment to Israel in response to the country’s plan to take control of Gaza City. The arms export freeze marks a dramatic change of course for the German government, which has long been one of Israel’s staunchest international allies as it has sought to atone for the Holocaust. Israel has until recently enjoyed broad support across the political spectrum in Germany, a country still seeking to atone for the World War II murder of more than six million Jews. In the period since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 started the Gaza war until May this year, Germany approved defence exports worth at least 485 million euros to Israel. Will this force Israel to seek peace ?
