German conference calls for halt to arms exports to Israeli occupation

BERLIN, Dec. 17 (YPA) – The Joint Conference on Church and Development in Germany called on the government, during a press conference held by the conference’s co-chairs, Karl Josten and Annie Gideon, to halt arms exports to the Israeli occupation.

Josten, representing the Catholic Church, said in his speech: “As the Joint Conference on Church and Development, we call on the government to refrain from supplying weapons to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip, even after the very fragile ceasefire.”

“And until the situation in the region has sufficiently stabilized and the risk of these weapons being used in serious violations of international humanitarian law has disappeared,” he added.

Regarding the German government’s decision to lift the suspension on arms exports to Israel after the ceasefire, Josten said: “We consider this decision premature.”

He stated that Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip contravenes the requirements of international humanitarian law in many aspects, particularly with regard to the treatment of civilians.