Germany Condemns Ben-Gvir's Calls for the Killing of Palestinians in Gaza
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the statements made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for the targeted killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. A German government spokesperson in Berlin stated that the chancellor considers the Israeli minister’s remarks inhumane, in violation of international law, and unacceptable, according to Deutsche Welle.
Ben-Gvir, who is a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, said on Monday that 30 to 40 Palestinians should be eliminated every night. According to DW, he clarified that this does not refer only to Palestinian militants who pose an immediate threat. The minister also said that among the residents of Gaza there are people who, in his opinion, do not deserve to live.
A German government spokesperson also criticized Israel’s plans to accelerate the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Berlin stated that there should be no further steps toward annexation. The German side emphasized that, as the occupying power, Israel must treat Palestinians with dignity, protect their property, ensure the functioning of the administration, and provide humanitarian aid.
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German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stated that the federal government cannot accept such statements and called for serious consideration of possible sanctions at the European Union level. Hildegard Bentele, a Member of the European Parliament from the Christian Democratic Union, and Jürgen Hardt, the foreign policy spokesperson for the conservative parliamentary group in the Bundestag, also supported EU sanctions against Ben-Gvir.
The leader of Germany’s Green Party, Franziska Brantner, called on Berlin to impose a travel ban on the Israeli minister and to push for similar restrictions within the EU. Lea Reissner, a representative of the Left Party, called for a halt to all German arms exports to Israel. Joseph Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, called Ben-Gvir’s behavior shameful and irresponsible, stating that his words contradict Jewish values and damage Israel’s reputation.
Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the Netherlands have already imposed entry bans on Ben-Gvir.
