Chancellor and Lawmakers Condemn Israeli Minister's Targeted Killings Call
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister, recently sparked international outrage by suggesting that targeted killings should be carried out in Gaza. He proposed that every night, 30 to 40 Palestinians should be "removed," indicating that his intentions extend beyond just those who pose an immediate threat. This controversial statement has drawn sharp criticism from various political figures in Germany.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned Ben-Gvir's remarks, labeling them as inhumane and a violation of international law. A government spokesperson emphasized that such statements are unacceptable and expressed concern over Israel's plans to accelerate settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The spokesperson reiterated that Israel, as the occupying power, must treat Palestinians with dignity and ensure humanitarian aid.
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, from the center-left Social Democratic Party, also voiced strong disapproval, stating that the federal government cannot accept such statements and that discussions regarding potential sanctions at the European level are underway. He stressed that Germany's solidarity with Israel does not mean silence in the face of unacceptable actions.
Support for sanctions against Ben-Gvir has also come from Hildegard Bentele, a member of the European Parliament, and Jürgen Hardt, the foreign policy spokesperson for the conservative parliamentary group in Germany's Bundestag. Both have called for the European Union to take a stand against Ben-Gvir's remarks, asserting that eliminating individuals is unacceptable in Europe.
The Green Party, an opposition party in the German parliament, has demanded severe consequences, urging the federal government to impose an entry ban on Ben-Gvir and advocate for similar sanctions at the European level. The party leader, Franziska Brantner, highlighted that this is not the first time Ben-Gvir has made inflammatory statements against Palestinians.
Lea Reisner from the socialist Left Party has gone further, calling for a halt to all German arms exports to Israel. The Central Council of Jews in Germany expressed horror at Ben-Gvir's comments, with its president, Josef Schuster, stating that such behavior contradicts Jewish values and harms Israel's reputation.
Kirsten Fehrs, chair of the Council of the Protestant Church in Germany, described Ben-Gvir's statements as an attack on humanity, emphasizing the need for a shared conviction across religions regarding the dignity of every human being. This incident highlights the growing concern over far-right rhetoric and its implications for peace and human rights in the region.
