Borussia Dortmund benefits from Gaza genocide thanks to Rheinmetall deal

German football club Borussia Dortmund has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, sparking backlash over the latter's supply of weapons to “Israel” used in the genocide in Gaza.

Rheinmetall is the fifth largest arms manufacturer in Europe and has been supplying weapons and ammunition to the Israeli occupation since October.

On October 10, just three days after the start of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, shares of Rheinmetall AG gained 4.83%, Anadolu Agency reported. Last month, a report from Action on Armed Violence revealed that Rheinmetall's involvement in the Israeli genocide in Gaza had doubled its share price.

In November, Germany approved an Israeli request for 10,000 rounds of 120-millimeter tank gun ammunition manufactured and supplied by Rheinmetall to be used in Gaza.

The deal is estimated at between 7 and 9 million euros per year and is accompanied by heavy advertising, including the display of the Rheinmetall logo on billboards, Dortmund's stadium, the Westfalenstadion, which can accommodate up to to 83,000 people, etc.

According to Hans-Joachim Watzke, managing director of BVB, this agreement was reached because of the shared values ​​of the football club and the arms company. “Security and defense are basic pillars of our democracy, so we believe it is the right decision to see how we can protect these pillars,” he said in a statement on taking responsibility.

Rheinmetall board chairman Armin Papperger commented on the deal saying the company and Dortmund were similar in terms of “ambitions, attitude and heritage”.

Dortmund sells itself to profit from the genocide

The move sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with fans sharing statements about how the deal does not respect the BVB's code of ethics, which is committed to a society free of racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, sexism, violence and discrimination.

A statement released by Versus on X said that “Dortmund are happy to have blood on their hands.”

Weapons manufacturers have no place in football. @BVB pic.twitter.com/7ha9AZ2FQ2

– AGAINST (@vsrsus) May 31, 2024

Mathias John, an arms industry expert from Amnesty Germany, told DW that Rheinmetall wants to be recognized not only for its involvement in the genocide, but also for positive topics like football, which is the origin of the 'agreement.

Furthermore, debunking the common value of “German defense”, Mathias said that Rheinmetall supplies arms and weapons through its subsidiaries throughout Europe, which contributes to violations of international law.

“Such a company wants to be mentioned not only in the context of weapons that hurt and kill people, but also with more positive things. Football and sports are positive topics. People associate them with happiness and fair competition , and Rheinmetall wants a piece of that.”

German-speaking Dortmund fan blog schwartzgelb.de said the football club had jeopardized its values ​​in terms of money.

Germany faces national trial for arming 'Israel'

In March, the annual study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that Germany had provided “Israel” with 30% of its weapons stock since October 7.

In April, it was reported that Germany would face a new petition demanding the cancellation of all arms deliveries to “Israel”, in a lawsuit that adds to pressure on Berlin. A petition filed in German courts will ask judges to quickly order the government to revoke all weapons licenses granted to “Israel” since October 7.

Four human rights organizations have filed a complaint on behalf of five identified Palestinians who said their lives were in danger due to “Israel's” campaign of collective punishment. They lost their families, their homes and their jobs because of Israeli aggression.

The legal action targets the Green Party-led Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate Action, which governs export licenses under the War Weapons Control Act.

The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), one of the lead litigants, said that “it is reasonable to believe that the German government is violating the Arms Trade Treaty, the Geneva Conventions and its obligations under the Genocide Convention. agreements which were ratified by Germany.

This action, which would have to be formulated in writing, would have the greatest practical impact on Germany's sale of 3,000 anti-tank missiles.

Wolfgang Kaleck, secretary general of the ECCHR, said that “Germany cannot remain true to its values ​​if it exports weapons to a war where serious violations of international humanitarian law are apparent.”

Read more: Germany calls on NATO to oppose UN arms embargo against 'Israel': exclusive