JERUSALEM, Aug 8: Israel announced its plans to take over Gaza City, a move that has sparked international condemnation and rejection from the Palestinians. The decision, agreed in a security Cabinet meeting, marks a further escalation of Israel’s 22-month war with Hamas and has raised concerns about the fate of hostages still held by Hamas. An additional major ground operation would likely exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe, as Israel’s air and ground war has pushed the territory toward famine. Hamas has stated that people in Gaza will remain defiant against occupation.
German military hardware has been used in Gaza, and Germany’s move to suspend defense exports to Israel will be a limited measure. German companies provide 30% of Israel’s defence imports, mostly naval armaments. Germany has been committed to providing Israel with arms, especially with ships, citing Germany’s deep support for Israel and enmeshed defense ties. Currently, Germany provides some hardware to Israel, such as small warships and tank engines, which can be fitted to Israel’s Merkava tanks and Namer armoured personnel carriers, which are actively deployed in Gaza.
German-made Sa’ar corvettes, small warships festooned with sophisticated radar equipment and cannons, have shelled targets in Gaza during the war. Since 2018, Germany has rapidly increased its share of the Israeli arms market, mostly with naval hardware like corvettes and torpedoes. However, it is not believed that this alone will stop Israel’s operations in Gaza, and Israel still has the USA as a committed arms supplier.
Mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working on a new framework to end the war and release hostages in one go in return for an end of the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the strip. The efforts have the backing of major Arab Gulf monarchies, as they are concerned about further regional destabilization if Israel’s government proceeds with a full reoccupation of Gaza, two decades after Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the strip. The yet-to-be finalized framework aims to address the contentious issue of what to do with Hamas’ weapons, with Israel seeking full disarmament and Hamas refusing.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says his country will not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza “until further notice.” He emphasizes that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas’ terror and that the release of Israeli hostages and “purposeful” negotiations toward a cease-fire in the 22-month conflict “are our top priority”. (AP)
