Lufthansa stops military deliveries to ‘Israel’ citing UK directives

• Lufthansa Cargo, the German air freight giant, announced the immediate suspension of all transports of military and security-related goods to and from ‘Israel’.
• The company cited compliance with international regulations, specifically the UK's Export Control Order and associated sanctions, as the reason for the surprise embargo.

German air freight giant Lufthansa Cargo has announced an immediate suspension of all transports involving military and security-related goods and equipment to and from ‘Israel’.

The decision, effective until further notice, affects shipments regardless of routing and stems from compliance with international regulations.

The move comes as a surprise amid improving bilateral ties between Germany and ‘Israel’.

In a statement emailed to media outlets, a Lufthansa Cargo spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to adhering to all applicable laws.

"Lufthansa Cargo fully complies with all applicable laws and regulations," the spokesperson said.

The suspension specifically targets military equipment and components bound for or originating from Tel Aviv.

The primary reasons cited for the embargo are the UK's Export Control Order and associated sanctions, which have rendered such transports unfeasible for the carrier.

Although Lufthansa is a German-based company, the UK directives impact its operations, potentially due to the international nature of supply chains involving British-origin components or transit requirements.

The company noted the restrictions apply independently of flight paths.

Lufthansa Cargo said it is actively seeking solutions to resume these shipments on a case-by-case basis.

"We are working on a solution to enable respective shipments," the spokesperson said.

The timing of the announcement raised eyebrows, coinciding with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's inaugural official visit to ‘Israel’ on Saturday.

Merz's trip follows ‘Israel's’ recent delivery of the Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany under a €4 billion deal.