Arms exports: No legal protection for Palestinians in Germany

German companies can supply arms to countries involved in the conflict without fear of prosecution

The Palestinian territories are one of the most conflict-ridden regions in the world. For decades, Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the Israeli military has been accused of numerous human rights violations against the Palestinian population. In recent years, Germany has become one of the main suppliers of arms to Israel. In 2021, Germany approved the export of more than 1 billion euros worth of arms to Israel, including weapons that have been used against Palestinian civilians.

There is no legal protection for Palestinians in Germany. German companies can supply arms to countries involved in the conflict without fear of prosecution. This is because Germany has not ratified the Arms Trade Treaty, which sets out international standards for the regulation of arms exports. The treaty requires states to assess the risk that arms exports could be used to commit human rights violations, but Germany has not adopted these standards.

Germany's arms exports to Israel are a violation of international law

The sale of arms to Israel is a violation of international law. The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits the transfer of weapons to a country that is occupying another country. Israel has been occupying the Palestinian territories since 1967, and has been condemned by the United Nations for its illegal occupation. The sale of arms to Israel is a clear violation of this convention.

In addition to violating international law, the sale of arms to Israel is also a violation of German law. The German War Weapons Control Act prohibits the export of arms to countries that are engaged in armed conflict. Israel is engaged in an armed conflict with the Palestinians, and the sale of arms to Israel is a violation of this law.

The German government has defended its arms exports to Israel by claiming that they are necessary for Israel's self-defense. However, this claim is contradicted by the evidence. The Israeli military has used German-made weapons to commit human rights violations against the Palestinians. In 2014, the Israeli military used German-made tanks and missiles to kill more than 2,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The German government must stop selling arms to Israel

The German government must stop selling arms to Israel. The sale of arms to Israel is a violation of international law, German law, and human rights. The German government must respect its obligations under international law and stop contributing to the suffering of the Palestinian people.