The German government will not approve any exports to Israel of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday in response to Israel's plan to expand its military operations there.
The release of the Israeli hostages and negotiations for a ceasefire are Germany's top priorities, Merz said in a statement, expressing deep concern over the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
"The German government believes that the even tougher military action in the Gaza Strip decided upon by the Israeli cabinet last night makes it increasingly difficult to see how these goals can be achieved," Merz said.
"Under these circumstances, the German government will not approve any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice."
Netanyahu slams Germany's 'support of Hamas terrorism'
Afterwards, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he "expressed his disappointment" with Merz's decision in a phone call with the German chancellor.
The conversation between the two was reportedly tense, Army Radio reporter Doron Kadosh said, citing a senior Israeli official.
"Instead of supporting Israel's just war against Hamas, which carried out the most horrific attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, Germany is rewarding Hamas terrorism by embargoing arms to Israel," a Prime Minister's Office statement noted.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel's goal is not to take over Gaza, but to free Gaza from Hamas and enable a peaceful government to be established there."
Germany is Israel's second biggest weapons supplier after the US, and has long been one of its staunchest supporters, principally because of historical guilt for the Nazi Holocaust - a policy known as the "Staatsraison,” German for raison d’état: “reason of state.”
"Politically and morally, this is certainly a hard blow for Netanyahu and his policies," according to Meron Mendel, director of the Anne Frank Education Center in Frankfurt.
An opinion poll in June indicated that 73% of Germans want tighter controls on arms exports, including 30% who favored a total ban.
"This is the right decision. The humanitarian suffering in Gaza is unbearable," said vice chancellor and finance minister Lars Klingbeil of the Social Democrats, who govern alongside Merz's conservatives.
Germany's parliament said in June that export licenses for military equipment to Israel worth 485 million euros ($564 million) were granted between October 7, 2023– the date of the Hamas massacre – and May 13, 2025.
Israel's decision to take over Gaza City "must have consequences for EU-Israel relations," EU Council President Antonio Costa said on Friday, adding that this will be assessed by the Council and that he urged the Israeli government to reconsider.
"Not only [does the decision] violate the agreement with the EU announced by the High Representative on July 19, but also undermines fundamental principles of international law and universal values," Costa, who heads the European Council that represents EU member states, said in his statement on X.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said that Israel's plan to take over Gaza "must be immediately halted."
"The war in Gaza must end now. And Israelis and Palestinians must be allowed to live side by side in peace." Turk said the Israeli government should put "all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza civilians" by allowing further humanitarian aid.
Regarding hostages, the UN human rights chief said that the hostages "must be immediately and unconditionally released by Palestinian armed groups," but that Israel must also "immediately and unconditionally" release Palestinians "arbitrarily detained."
Belgium's foreign minister summoned the Israeli ambassador, citing Israel's announced plan to occupy Gaza City and take military control of the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the ministry said Belgium wanted to "express [its] total disapproval of this decision, but also of the continued colonization ... and the desire to annex the West Bank," adding that it will "vigorously advocate" for a reversal of this decision.
"Following the official confirmation by the Israeli government of its intention to encircle and then occupy Gaza City and take military control of the entire Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has decided to summon the Israeli Ambassador," it said.
Earlier on Friday, Britain and Australia in separate statements urged Israel against taking military control over the Gaza Strip, after Israel's Security Cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza City on Thursday overnight.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday said Israel's decision to take control of Gaza City was wrong and urged the government in Jerusalem to reconsider.
"The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza City is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately," he said in a statement.
"This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed," he said.
Member of Parliament and junior minister Miatta Fahnbulleh told Times Radio, "We think that decision is the wrong decision, and we hope that the Israeli government will reconsider it."
"It risks escalating an already intolerable and atrocious situation, Fahnbulleh said.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Friday said that, "Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza."
Wong said permanent forced displacement was a violation of international law and repeated calls for a ceasefire, aid to flow unimpeded, and for the terrorist group Hamas to free the hostages kidnapped in October 2023.
“A two-state solution is the only pathway to secure an enduring peace – a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side-by-side in peace and security within internationally-recognized borders,” she added.
Five countries sign joint statement voicing disapproval
It was later reported that Germany, Australia, and the UK signed a joint statement alongside New Zealand and Italy voicing disapproval for Israel's further plans in the Gaza Strip.
"It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians," the statement said.
Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City is "wrong" and will put the lives of the remaining hostages at greater risk, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Friday.
France condemned the Israeli plan to occupy Gaza, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a post to X/Twitter on Friday.
"France strongly condemns the Israeli government's plan aimed at preparing for the complete occupation of Gaza," Barrot wrote. "Such an operation would worsen an already catastrophic situation without enabling the release of Hamas hostages, its disarmament, or its surrender."
International recognition of Palestinian state as Israel moves forward on Gaza plans
While the UK, Canada, and France announced their intentions to recognize Palestinian statehood, Australia has not yet joined the other nations, but said it would make a decision "at an appropriate time," while escalating its criticism of Israel's actions.
The Security Cabinet also adopted five principles for ending the war, namely disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, both living and murdered, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, Israel maintaining security control over the Gaza Strip, and the existence of a civilian government that is not controlled by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
An absolute majority of cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan, which was presented to the Security Cabinet, would not achieve the defeat of Hamas or the return of the hostages.
This is a developing story.