Germany’s top court to rule this week on controversial arms exports to Israel
Germany’s top court will rule on Thursday on whether a Palestinian civilian from Gaza can legally challenge arms exports to Israel – a decision that could set a precedent for other cases, according to rights groups.
The Federal Constitutional Court will decide on a constitutional complaint filed by a Gaza resident who lost his wife and child in Israeli military strikes. The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Palestinian partner organisations are backing the legal challenge.
Earlier, lower German courts dismissed the complaint from the Palestinian man, who still lives with his remaining family members in a tent in southern Gaza under constant threat of military attacks.
In December last year, he filed an urgent application with the Federal Constitutional Court to stop German defence manufacturers from delivering spare parts for Israeli tanks.
Despite documented violations of international law in Gaza, Germany has continued authorising arms exports to Israel, according to ECCHR. Germany ranks among Israel’s largest arms suppliers, authorising sales totalling more than 492 million euros ($586m) between October 7, 2023, and June 5, 2025.
UNRWA chief slams Israeli curbs on reporters, aid workers entering Gaza
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), has condemned Israel’s ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza and restrictions on humanitarian aid groups and their workers.
“These Israeli policies aim at further dehumanising Palestinians by denying their suffering & their existence,” Lazzarini wrote on X. “Lifting the information embargo is long overdue.”
Independent foreign journalists are denied access to Gaza. So are humanitarian workers reporting about the plight of the population & human rights abuses.
Journalists should not have to turn to the courts to defend basic media freedoms.
And humanitarian organisations + their…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) February 10, 2026
