Berlin, Germany – Seven human rights lawyers in Berlin have filed a motion to halt Germany’s arms exports to Israel. The lawyers allege that the German government is complicit in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by continuing to supply Israel with weapons. This initiative has gained support from multiple non-governmental organizations, including the European Support Legal Center, Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, and Law for Palestine. It falls under the Justice and Accountability for Palestine Initiative.
The lawyers’ motion is based on recent developments in international bodies such as the United Nations (UN) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The UN Human Rights Council, for instance, has adopted a draft resolution calling for member states to cease the sale and transfer of arms to Israel to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law. Additionally, there is an ongoing genocide case against Israel pending before the ICJ, led by South Africa.
Allegations of international humanitarian law breaches have also been mounting against Israel, with Human Rights Watch releasing a report claiming that an Israeli airstrike conducted on a civilian apartment building on October 31, 2023, constituted a war crime. These developments have fueled the lawyers’ efforts to hold the German government accountable for their involvement in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
It is not the first time that the NGOs and lawyers involved have attempted to take action against the German government. They had previously supported a criminal complaint accusing German officials of aiding and abetting genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by providing weapons to Israel. In response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, the German Federal Foreign Office increased its assistance by an additional 20 million euro in March.
The motion filed by the human rights lawyers adds to the growing pressure on Germany to reassess its arms exports to Israel. As the debate surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, many are questioning the ethical implications of supplying weaponry to a region marred by ongoing violence. Advocacy groups and activists are calling for increased accountability and adherence to international humanitarian law. The outcome of this motion could have significant implications not only for Germany’s arms exports but also for the wider discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.