Amid growing criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, members of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) are calling for a halt to weapons deliveries to the country.
“I believe it would be the right decision to refrain from supplying weapons at this time,” said Rolf Mützenich, former SPD parliamentary group leader, during an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, citing the Israeli army’s operations in the Gaza Strip.
He emphasized that the issue should be thoroughly debated in parliament, though the final decision rests with the Federal Security Council.
The call to suspend arms exports has been echoed by other prominent SPD figures, including Philipp Türmer, leader of the party’s youth wing, and former SPD chairman Norbert Walter-Borjans. “There must be no further violations of international law. Suspending arms supplies is an important lever for the Federal Republic and a building block toward addressing the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” Türmer stated.
Walter-Borjans argued that Germany’s historic responsibility to Israel also entails guiding it away from actions that breach international norms. This, he said, includes halting arms deliveries used in such violations.
Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, while not directly calling for a stop to arms exports, had earlier backed Chancellor Merz’s criticism of Israel’s military actions. He noted that the continued offensive in Gaza is inconsistent with “international legal norms.”
SPD leader and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil had not initially advocated for an arms export moratorium, but rather suggested the government consider additional steps in response to the situation.
On Monday, Adis Ahmetovic, the SPD parliamentary group’s spokesperson on foreign policy, added his voice to the debate. “German weapons must not be used to spread humanitarian catastrophes or violate international law,” Ahmetovic said.
