2026 marks surge in German weapons deliveries to Israel

The German state is aiding and abetting the Israeli genocide in Gaza for almost three years now. Ideologically, politically and militarily, Germany has remained on Israel’s side unconditionally. Germany remains the second-largest weapons deliverer to Israel. All export licenses for arms exports to Israel issued up to August 2025 (amounting to almost half a billion euros from October 2023 to May 2025) remained in place.

New reports show that in the first five months of 2026, the arms exports to Israel have exceeded the previous 20 months combined: 800 million euros of arms exports were approved to Israel.

The German government has confirmed that over 60% of the value of arms licenses were used for a “major maritime project” with Al Jazeera reporting that the most likely candidate being a submarine built by the German manufacturer TKMS (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems):

“The INS Drakon, a nuclear-capable Dolphin II-class submarine, underwent its maiden voyage last year at a shipyard in Kiel on the Baltic Sea. Its estimated value is 480 million euros ($548m). It was officially handed over to the Israeli Navy last week, according to German media reports.”

Although the German Foreign Office and Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy declined to comment, it is very likely that the submarine includes a vertical launching system (VLS), which allows it to launch nuclear-tipped cruise missiles or ballistic missiles:

“During its sea trials, the submarine’s tower was covered with tarpaulins and fibreglass plates to prevent observers from determining its weapons configuration. Strategically, submarines of this class could provide a sea-based second-strike capability – the ability of a country to fire back nuclear weapons after it has itself faced a nuclear attack.”

German weaponry and ships have been used in the genocide in Gaza, while nuclear-bearing submarines serve the Israeli-US imperialist wars on Iran and Lebanon.

The further export of arms to Israel, is one key component of German militarization. Already in 2022, the ruling coalition of Social Democrats, Greens, and Liberals pushed a 100 billion euro “special fund” for the military. The current government of Christian Democrats (Conservatives) and Social Democrats declared in the spring of 2025 that another 900 billion euros will be invested in “military and infrastructure”. Germany is to be converted to a war economy.

As one of the world’s largest arms exporters, in 2026 alone, Germany has already granted licenses for arms worth 13.87 billion euros. Historically, Germany has also send billions of euros worth of arms to the Sisi regime as well as other dictatorships in the region.

Simultaneously, war rhetoric and the threat of an immanent enemy attack have been systematically used by the German ruling class to legitimize budget cuts in virtually all social sectors: While hospitals are closing and social benefits are being cut, billions are being spent on tanks, drones, munitions, and genocide. The stock market value of corporations is skyrocketing. This is class politics – political practice in the interest of the ruling class, using military means.

In light of these developments, protest against militarization and the ongoing wars against Iran, Lebanon and the genocide in Gaza have ebbed. Yet only increasing political pressure will force the German government to end its support for the genocide. Only growing protest will be able to halt the government from its course and force a complete halt to all arms shipments. The anti-genocide and anti-militarization movements organically must go hand in hand. Coalitions on the ground, like the Internationalist Alliance Berlin, are doing just that, by demanding a free Palestine and an end to German militarization. These demands include:

No weapons for genocide in Palestine! End all arms and military deliveries from Germany to Israel! Stop buying weapons systems from Israel for Germany! Arms embargo now!

For the right to self determination of the people in Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. No to the sanctions regime against Iran. US bases out of the Middle East!

End the genocide in Palestine! Demand the return of all displaced Palestinians and the immediate rebuilding of the Gaza Strip! The warmongers, no matter if they are in Washington, Berlin, or Tel Aviv, should be brought to justice!

Switch from armaments and weapons production to civilian production!

No social cuts for war! Money for social infrastructure, schools, public transport, not for Germany’s and NATO’s rearmament policy!

Stop the criminalization of the Palestine solidarity and the anti-war movement in Germany!