Germany necessitates delivering an unambiguous message to Israel promptly.
Title: A Clear Stand Against Israel's Actions in Gaza: Germany Must Speak Loud and Clear
Rant by Hubertus Volmer
Germany, it's high time we stood up and addressed Israel's relentless actions in the Gaza Strip. Chancellor Merz hit the nail on the head - the ongoing violence can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas. Now, let's not whisper our concerns, but shout them from the rooftops.
Since its birth, Israel has been forced to defend itself against attacks. And rightly so. However, its occupation of territories outside its own borders is a direct result of threats from its Arab neighbors. Today, Iran poses the greatest threat to Israel, preaching the destruction of the "Zionist regime" for decades.
But let's set the record straight. Hamas seeks the eradication of Israel and the murder of Jews, just like it did when they triggered the Gaza war by attacking Israel on October 7, 2023. They murdered nearly 1200 people and kidnapped 250 more. This was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Despite claiming to fight Hamas, Israel continues to fire rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
Fact-Check: Israel, the Aggressor?
Denying this reality is like closing our eyes to an ugly truth. Israel is not the aggressor in the ever-changing Middle Eastern conflict. If Germany supplies weapons to Israel, it's because we support the democratically elected state, not a specific leader or government.
Death Toll Soars
The Gaza Strip is now a bombed-out wasteland, with no means for its residents to escape to safety. The death toll in this senseless war has reached alarming heights, with between 77,000 and 109,000 Palestinians reported dead according to the British "Economist". This would be four to five percent of the pre-war population of the area. Although Hamas-controlled health authorities in the Gaza Strip have reported a lower figure of 54,084 deceased, including 16,854 children, it's clear that the number is far too high.
Israeli officials have been accused of war crimes for starving the population of the Gaza Strip. The accusations aren't just coming from pro-Palestinian activists anymore. The International Criminal Court in The Hague has raised concerns, as has former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a guest article for the newspaper "Haaretz". He called Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip a "war of destruction".
The Need for a Change in Policy
As a country that considers itself a friend of Israel, we must be deeply concerned about the actions of the Israeli government. Hamas is not just a terrorist organization, but an ideology, as Austrian Colonel and military strategist Matthias Wasinger pointed out in an interview with ntv.de. Israel claims to have killed around 20,000 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters. But, Wasinger notes, it's estimated that Hamas has recruited up to 15,000 new fighters during the same period.
The Israeli government's reliance on military success is a short-sighted approach that fails to address the root cause of the conflict. Instead of offering a scenario for the day after, it continues to occupy the entire Gaza Strip and plans to construct 22 new settlements in the West Bank, making annexation more likely.
A Call to Action
The German government must take a firm stand on these issues. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is absolutely correct - the civilian population in the Gaza Strip should not be caught in the crossfire of Israel's fight against Hamas terrorism. German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, also agrees that while Israel needs weapons to protect itself, any further arms deliveries should be based on their compatibility with international humanitarian law.
Now is the time for action. We cannot continue to remain silent or backtrack on our stance. Israel needs our support, but not our complicity in a never-ending conflict. It's time for a clear and loud message - we support Israel, but we demand a peaceful resolution to this crisis.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- [1] BTSJ Sanctions Israel: Why the Block the Bombs Act Matters
- [2] The Christian Science Monitor: Are the US and EU breaking international law by Arming Israel?
- [3] Al Jazeera: Israel's Airstrikes on Gaza Kill Nearly 70 Palestinians, Wound over 500
- [4] The Guardian: UK court case hears argument Israel violated international law in Gaza
- [5] The New York Times: International Criminal Court to open a probe into Israeli Palestinian conflict crimes
- The European Union, committed to a comprehensive and comprehensive approach to the fight against terrorism, has been closely monitoring the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, thus war-and-conflicts and general-news are relevant.
- Amidst increasing calls for action against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, the European Union's position on the matter is of high political significance, linking terrorism, war-and-conflicts, and politics.
