A German church organisation representing both Catholic and Protestant churches yesterday urged a partial arms export ban against Israel amid the increasing charges of war crimes and genocide accusations it faces for its conduct in Gaza, Anadolu reported.
They called on the German government “not to approve arms exports to Israel if there is sufficient suspicion that the arms will be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law,” said Karl Juesten, co-chairman of the Joint Conference Church and Development (GKKE), at a press briefing in Berlin.
“Armaments such as tank ammunition may not be exported to Israel unless the Israeli government gives the security of the civilian population in Gaza a significantly higher priority,” added the Catholic prelate, whose country is a strong political supporter of Tel Aviv.
Juesten stressed that Israel “must also adhere to international humanitarian law,” but stopped short of calling for a complete ban on German arms exports to Israel.
The Catholic official also called for “an end to the war” in Gaza, saying that “the fighting must cease.”
On 5 December, Amnesty International said it “found sufficient basis to conclude that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.” In its report, the rights group said: “Israel has unleashed hell and destruction on Palestinians in Gaza brazenly, continuously, and with total impunity.”
Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on Gaza.