BERLIN — Germany will lift its restrictions on arms exports to Israel at the end of November, Berlin said Monday, reversing a politically fraught decision taken at the height of the Gaza war.

Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius told the German press agency dpa that the export limitations — introduced in August by Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the wake of accusations that Israel committed war crimes — would no longer apply. He cited the ceasefire agreed in October between Israel and Hamas, which has “stabilized in recent weeks.” 

He also pointed to ongoing diplomatic efforts “toward a lasting peace” and Germany’s increased humanitarian support for civilians in Gaza. Berlin will now “generally return to case-by-case assessments” of applications, Kornelius said, while continuing to support relief efforts and reconstruction.

The decision ends a period in which Germany, despite presenting the measure as a targeted halt on equipment “clearly usable in Gaza,” in practice approved no new arms licenses at all. 

A written reply from the economy ministry showed that between Aug. 8 and Sept. 12, Berlin issued zero export permits of any kind — a broader freeze than Merz’s announcement had implied. 

Although war-weapons exports have been paused, lifting the restrictions makes it likely Israel will again be able to import components such as Renk-produced engines for Merkava tanks, pending individual approval.

Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people in Israel, a large majority of whom were civilians, and taking 251 hostages. The attack prompted a major Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of them civilians, displaced 90 percent of Gaza’s population and destroyed wide areas.

The ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump in October led to the release of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages.