Germany acknowledges it sought assurances before supplying weapons to Israel facing genocide accusations

BERLIN

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday acknowledged that Berlin received a letter from Israel promising to adhere to "international humanitarian law" when using German-supplied arms.

Addressing questions in the German Bundestag, or parliament, on the country's recent reluctance to approve exports of ammunition and tank parts to Israel, Baerbock insisted that halting arms sales to Israel was out of the question.

However, she emphasized that the German government was obligated to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law. She said Israel recently provided written assurances related to its most recent arms purchase requests, in parallel with similar commitments obtained by the US and UK.

Baerbock defended the government's approach, stating that each arms request is examined according to German laws and regulations. Questioned on a recent delay in the German exports, she emphasized that others, not her, should be asked why the letter was not sent sooner.

This confirmation follows German media reports suggesting that Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck had been blocking arms sales to Israel in the country's Federal Security Council, demanding written assurances.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday reaffirmed that Israel would continue to receive arms and ammunition from Germany.

Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the besieged enclave, where millions of Palestinians are displaced, facing famine and acute shortages of medical aid and other essentials.

*Writing by Yasin Gungor