GERMANY SUED TO STOP

WEAPON EXPORTS TO ISRAEL

On April 5, 2024, the Berlin-based Lawyers' Collective filed a lawsuit against the German government, citing the ethical implications of supplying weaponry to Israel, which directly contradicted Germany's constitutional commitment to protecting human life. The lawsuit states that Germany's arms support to Israel breaches the Federal Republic's obligations under the War Weapons Control Act, which stipulates that arms exports must align with Germany's international law obligations. This legal action follows the previous lawsuit against senior German officials, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for "aiding and abetting" Israel's alleged genocide in Gaza and the Nicaragua ICJ lawsuit against Germany for its role in abetting Israel's actions against Palestinians.

The lawsuit seeks an immediate cease of arms exports to Israel, which points to concerns that the weapons supplied by Germany are used in activities that break international law, based on the recent accusations against Israel of genocide and war crimes in Gaza. The German government approved $354 million worth of weapon exports to Israel, most of which gained approval after the October 7, 2023 attack. Between 2019 and 2023, Germany accounted for 30% of Israel's imported weaponry, only second to the United States, leading at 69%.

"Germany has a constitutional responsibility to protect human life. The German government must stop its arms exports to Israel, as they are in violation of international law. The government cannot claim that it is not aware of this," Ahmed Abed, a lawyer representing Palestinian families, told a news conference in Berlin.

Lawyers Sue Germany in Bid to Block Arms Exports to Israel (Common Dreams, 4-6-24)

German human rights lawyers file motion to stop arms exports to Israel (Jurist, 4-7-24)

Lawyers’ Collective Sues Germany in Bid to Block Arms Exports to Israel (Truthout, 4-7-24)

Nicaragua Is Taking Germany to ICJ Over Supplying Arms to Israel (The New York Times, 4-8-24)

Nicaragua Is Taking Germany to Court Over Claim It’s Aiding Israel’s ‘Genocide’ (Time, 4-8-24)