Celebrities, numbering more than 160, petition for a pause in hostilities in Israel
German Chancellor Announces Halt to Arms Exports to Israel Amidst Gaza Crisis
In a significant shift in Germany's historical stance towards Israel, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that Germany will stop all weapons and military goods exports that could be used in the Gaza Strip. This decision comes in response to the Israeli government’s decision to militarily occupy Gaza City.
The move was prompted by the Israeli cabinet’s move towards tougher military action in Gaza, leading Chancellor Merz to express concern about the humanitarian and political implications. However, he reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and the importance of disarming Hamas.
The call to halt German arms exports to Israel has gained widespread support, with over 360 prominent figures, including actors, musicians, and media personalities, adding their names to the cause. Notable signatories include musicians Ski Aggu, Katharina Thalbach, Joko Winterscheidt, and Klaas Heufer-Umlauf, as well as directors Fatih Akin, Ari Folman, and actress Sandra Hüller.
The open letter, sent last Thursday, specifically criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy the entire Gaza Strip. It also condemns the heinous crimes of Hamas in the strongest terms, stating that no crime justifies punishing millions of innocent people in the cruelest way imaginable.
The letter's initiators are urging Chancellor Merz to take action regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, expressing their concern about the current crisis. Last week, over 200 prominent figures, including politicians, artists, and academics, sent a similar call to Chancellor Merz, urging him to halt weapons exports and impose further sanctions on Israel.
Israeli media reported on Netanyahu's announcement to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, a decision that has faced opposition from senior Israeli military officials. The "Tagesschau" was the first to report on this new call to halt German arms exports to Israel.
This decision by Chancellor Merz represents a significant shift in Germany’s stance, balancing support for Israel’s self-defense with concerns about the conflict’s escalation and humanitarian impact. Within German politics, Merz’s ruling conservative party (CDU/CSU) saw mixed reactions: some members criticized the export halt, while others, including Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil of the Social Democrats (SPD), supported it.
[1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/merz-stoppt-waffenlieferungen-an-israel-a-e147038678.html [2] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-merz-halts-arms-exports-to-israel-over-gaza-crisis/a-61223583
The entertainment industry, led by figures such as musicians Ski Aggu, Katharine Thalbach, Joko Winterscheidt, and Klaas Heufer-Umlauf, have expressed their concerns about the Gaza crisis and called for a halt to German arms exports to Israel. In response to the Israeli government’s decision to militarily occupy Gaza City, a group of 360 celebrities, including directors Fatih Akin, Ari Folman, and actress Sandra Hüller, have added their names to an open letter urging Chancellor Merz to take action regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip.
