Results of a new poll suggest that the majority of Germans oppose military support for Israel.
According to the results of a newly-conducted poll in Germany, the majority of German people disagree with the idea that their government support Israel in its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“About 68 percent of Germans have declared their opposition to military support for Israel in the event of a war between Israel and Iran or Hezbollah,” the poll said.
When compared to a similar poll carried out in March, it becomes clear that criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has increased among Germans as well. Some 57 percent of respondents said Israel’s military response to the October 7 Hamas attacks was already excessive, which showed a 7 percent increase from March.
The number of respondents who consider Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip appropriate also decreased by seven percent to only 21 percent. Also according to the new poll, “6 out of 10 Germans (61 percent) consider Israel to be fully responsible for the situation in Gaza”.
Germany has a history of arms exports to Israel!
Germany has been a full supporter of Israel for decades allegedly because of its anti-Semitic past under the Hitler government. This European country is a major arms supplier to Israel. It is in fact the second largest arms exporter to Israel after the United States.
In 2023 alone, for example, the German government approved arms deliveries worth 326.5 million euros ($356.7 million) to Israel, as well as 308 licenses for the export of military equipment with a total value of around 327 million euros.
These licenses include military technology, electronic equipment, vessels of war, special naval equipment, bombs, torpedoes, rockets, missiles, and other explosive devices. Over 25 percent of Israel’s arms imports between 2019 and 2023 have also come from Germany, supplying Israel mainly with submarines, warships, vehicle and aircraft engines, and torpedoes.
Berlin also exports diesel engines for Merkava-4 tanks, which are crucial to Israel for its ground invasion. Since October 7 when the war between Israel and Hamas erupted, these tanks have been used in attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Gaza.
