Press release: Defence Team of the Ulm 5 from 22nd July 2026
Today, 22nd July 2026, was the 11th court date of the trial of the Ulm5. The defence submitted a motion calling for the CEO of Elbit Systems Germany to be questioned as a witness. The defence believes that, when on the stand, Mr. Rachow would confirm Elbit Systems Germany’s involvement in war crimes in Gaza.
Elbit Systems Deutschland GmbH und Co. KG is, the defence is certain, an integral part of the war effort in Gaza. It is integrated through a division of labour across the wider Elbit Systems Group, supporting the Israeli army’s warfare in Gaza, in particular through technology transfer, the delivery of military equipment, and components to Israel as well as financial ties. The court has yet to rule on the motion to admit this evidence.
On an earlier trial date, 3rd July 2026, the defence had demanded that the court secure the removal of Chief Prosecutor Stengel and replace him with another prosecutor. Among others this is based on his breach of duties by completely failing to conduct any investigations regarding Elbit Systems Germany, and, furthermore, instructed police officers not to investigate in this direction.
For background, we attach the defence’s motion to admit this evidence.
Furthermore, in a massive violation of parliamentary rights, contempt for the legislative branch by a judge, and, completely groundlessly, Presiding Judge Kathrin Lauchstädt prohibited parliamentary observers – from the Irish Parliament and the European Parliament – from taking notes on proceedings in the public gallery. The judge considers it dangerous for Members of Parliament from an EU Member State to observe a trial with pen and paper – this is a scandal and cannot be justified.
Who are the Ulm5? Five young people – students, artists, activists – from Ireland, the UK, Spain, and Germany who have spent years advocating for Palestinian rights through legal means. Their action on 8th September 2025, was an expression of deep moral conviction – civil disobedience directed exclusively against property in order to save human lives.
Defence team in Case No. 18 KLs 36 Js 123/25 Dr. Maja Beisenherz, München, Info@beisenherz.eu, 0177 / 70 95 812, Michael Brenner, Nürnberg, michael.brenner@anw-nbg.de, 0911 / 37 66 42 77, Mathes Breuer, München, breuer@kanzlei-abe.de, 0175 / 52 46 963, Anna Magdalena Busl, Bonn, busl@anwaltsbuero-bonn.de, 0176 / 23 23 32 35, Benjamin Düsberg, Berlin, mail@rechtsanwalt-duesberg.de, 0157 / 30 30 8383, Carolin Kaufmann, Berlin, kaufmann@akm-berlin.de, 0172 / 47 21 420, Rosa Mayer-Eschenbach, München, eschenbach@kanzlei-abe.de, 0176 / 65 35 94 43, Christina Mucha, Memmingen, info@kanzlei-mucha.de, 08331 / 69 08 136, Nina Onèr, Berlin, kanzlei@ninaoner.de, 01520 97 33 278, Matthias Schuster, Berlin, mail@anwalt-schuster.de, 0176 / 24 75 8230, Martina Sulzberger, Augsburg, kanzlei@anwaeltin-sulzberger.de, 0821 / 50 87 3850