A group of more than 30 human rights groups has called upon the German government to immediately stop arms exports to Israel, and undertake stronger diplomatic efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The groups, including peace movement Pax Christi, Oxfam Germany, and Amnesty International, mailed an open letter on Thursday to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, asking Berlin to honor its obligations under international law and use its influence on the Israeli regime for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

“Stop the export of war weapons and other military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza or the occupied West Bank,” the groups said in their letter, warning that these weapons could be used to commit serious human rights violations.

“We call on you to live up to your own responsibilities under international law, take all available measures to increase pressure on Israel to implement the demands of the International Court of Justice, and end the blockade on the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to Gaza,” the groups said.

They also urged German authorities to do anything in their power to ensure respect for international humanitarian law in Gaza.

The Munich-based Jewish-Palestinian Dialogue Group, Doctors of the World, CARE Germany, and medico international were among the 37 NGOs that underwrote the joint letter.

Germany has been a staunch supporter of Israel for decades. The European country is a significant arms supplier to Israel, with a substantial contribution of €326.5 million ($353.70 million) worth of military equipment and weapons in the past year alone.

Germany's lethal arms exports to the occupied territories have seen a tenfold increase after Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, making it not only complicit but an active participant in the genocide unfolding in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories.

Concomitantly with the war, the regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory into a trickle.

So far during the military onslaught, the regime has killed at least 34,596 Gazans, most of them women, children, and adolescents while another 77,816 Palestinians have sustained injuries.