Germany Halts Arms Exports to Israel

Germany has announced a halt to arms exports to Israel that could be used in Gaza, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Israel's new plan to occupy the major city of Gaza has sparked outrage worldwide.

The British Prime Minister outrightly calls the strategy "wrong." Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) is also critical.

"This measure will do nothing to end this conflict or help free the hostages," says Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, is also strongly critical, demanding that the plan be "immediately stopped."

"It completely contradicts the International Court's ruling that Israel must end its occupation as soon as possible," Türk states in a communiqué.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) shares the outrage.

"I view the decision made by the Israeli government with great concern," she tells SVT News.

She notes that it is currently difficult to foresee the consequences of the decision for the situation in Gaza.

"I have previously reiterated that any attempts to annex, alter, or reduce Gaza's territory would violate international law."

China also expresses concern. Israel must "immediately cease these dangerous actions," writes a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. "The Gaza Strip belongs to the Palestinian people and cannot be separated from Palestinian territory."

The Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also condemns the decision.

"It would only lead to further destruction and suffering," he writes on X.