DayofPal— The German government has authorized almost 800 million euros ($913 million) in arms export licences to the occupying state of Israel during the first five months of 2026 alone.
This figure surpasses the total value of approvals granted over the preceding 20 months combined, even as Israel stands accused of committing genocide in Gaza, escalating aggression in Lebanon, and launching direct assaults on Iran.
The surge was disclosed by German officials in response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The overwhelming majority of licences were granted in April and May, accelerating the military support to one of Berlin’s closest allies.
More than 60 percent of the approved value is linked to a single undisclosed “major maritime project.”
Defence analysts widely identify this as the INS Drakon, a advanced Dolphin II-class submarine constructed by German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
The nuclear-capable vessel recently completed its delivery to the Israeli Navy following sea trials in the Baltic Sea. Valued at approximately €480 million, the submarine is reportedly equipped with a vertical launching system (VLS), potentially granting Israel enhanced sea-based second-strike nuclear capabilities.
The submarine’s advanced features were deliberately concealed during testing, with sections of the vessel shrouded to obscure its full military specifications.This latest export deepens long-standing defence ties between Germany and Israel.
In May, TKMS signed a cooperation agreement with Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest private arms manufacturer. Berlin is also reported to be subsidising roughly 30 percent of the Drakon’s cost, in addition to significant future contributions toward the Dakar-class submarine programme.
Despite ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice and domestic opposition to arming a state accused of war crimes like Israel, Berlin has continued, and dramatically increased, its military support.
German naval exports are actively strengthening Israel’s offensive arsenal at a time when it faces are committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Senior researcher Max Mutschler of the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies noted internal governmental concerns over Israeli atrocities, yet these have failed to translate into any meaningful policy restrictions.
This surge forms part of a broader boom in German arms exports. Licences worth €13.87 billion were approved in the first half of 2026, more than four times the figure for the same period in 2025.
As Israel’s genocide continues to exact a devastating toll on Palestinian and Lebanese lives, Germany’s role as a major supplier of advanced weaponry draws intensified accusations of complicity in the ongoing atrocities.
The delivery of sophisticated naval platforms such as the Drakon not only bolsters Israel’s regional dominance but also entrenches Berlin’s position as a critical enabler of the Israeli occupation’s military machine.
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