Germany says stands by arms deliveries to Israel

Germany's foreign minister said on Wednesday that the country would continue arms deliveries to Israel despite earlier suggesting that these were under review.

Johann Wadephul told a heated session in parliament that Israel, amid its military campaign in Gaza, was under threat from Yemen's Houthi rebels, Lebanese Hezbollah and Iran, and that "Germany will continue to support Israel, including with weapons deliveries".

Last week, Wadephul said that Germany was assessing "whether what is happening in Gaza is in line with international law" and that arms sales to Israel would be evaluated on this basis.

This brought criticism from some within Wadephul's own CDU/CSU conservative alliance, who accused him of insufficient support for Israel.

On Thursday, Wadephul will welcome his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar to Berlin.

Wednesday's parliamentary session was briefly disrupted by a protester shouting "Free Palestine" and "No to genocide", who was then escorted from the spectators' gallery.

Earlier, an MP for the far-left Die Linke party, Cansin Kokturk, was ordered to leave the chamber for wearing a T-shirt with the word "Palestine" on it.

Germany has been one of Israel's strongest supporters as it tries to atone for the murder of more than six million Jewish people during the Holocaust.

However, conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last week: "I no longer understand what the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip, with what goal."

He added that the impact on Gaza's civilians "can no longer be justified by a fight against Hamas terrorism".

Israel has faced growing international pressure to end its war in Gaza, which was triggered by the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israeli soil.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,607 people have been killed by Israel's offensive in the territory, mostly civilians.

Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Israel recently eased its blockade of Gaza, but the United Nations says the territory's entire population remains at risk of famine.