Title: German Ambassador's Middle East Remarks Spark Controversy in Tunisia

Last week's inauguration ceremony of a secondary school in Tunisia's capital, Ben Arous district, filled with controversy when comments made by the German ambassador about the Middle East conflict stirred up a social media storm.

A Controversial Speech

During the opening ceremony, German Ambassador Peter Prügel and Tunisian Education Minister Mohammed Ali Boughdiri addressed the public. However, the discussion veered off course when the education minister spoke about the Middle East conflict towards the end of his speech. The minister's exact words are unclear, while Ambassador Prügel attempted to clarify Germany's stance on the issue.

His stance was clear — Germany sympathizes with the losses suffered by both Israeli and international communities during the conflict.

Unfortunately, these remarks seemed to be drowned out by the protests of the audience. Meaningful dialogue was disrupted, and the ambassador's message was not aimed at causing a ruckus.

Misinterpretations and Accusations

Hours later, Tunisian media accused Ambassador Prügel of supporting the murder of civilians in Gaza. The German embassy promptly cleared up any confusion via their Facebook page, stating that Prügel expressed his sorrow for all victims of the Gaza war during his speech.

However, it was the barbaric terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7 that fueled the escalation.

Social Media Frenzy

Despite Germany's efforts to modernize Tunisian schools through the European Investment Bank project, the Middle East controversy intensified. Social media users denounced Germany and launched a campaign under the hashtag #freepalestine.

The online posts condemned the ambassador's speech as a disgrace and an unprovoked provocation towards the sensitive feelings of Tunisians, who have supported the Palestinian people dearly and been under Israeli occupation since 1948.

Tunisia's Draft Law Puts Israel-Tunisia Relations in Jeopardy

To make matters worse, supporters of Tunisia's dictatorial leader, Kais Saied, drafted a bill that would criminalize contacts with Israeli citizens, should it pass through parliament.

This proposed law would render contracts with Israelis invalid and punish individuals involved in events with Israeli citizens. The severity of the punishment varied, depending on the severity of the crime – ranging from six to twelve years in prison and fines of up to thirty thousand euros.

Though the draft legislation has yet to be approved, such a law would undoubtedly impact humanitarian projects, diplomatic relations, and tourism between Tunisia and Israel, further escalating tensions.

1. Social media users in Tunisia use the hashtag #freepalestine to express outrage over alleged German support for civilian deaths in Gaza, particularly after a speech by German Ambassador Peter Prügel mentioned Israeli and international victims.
2. Before this incident, Germany had funded the modernization of a Tunisian school and would continue to support more than 180,000 students nationwide with additional projects.
3. The controversial draft law in Tunisia suggests that engagement with Israelis could result in penal consequences, worsening tensions between the two nations and potentially affecting diplomatic and humanitarian relations.

Enrichment data:

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a pre-election debate in 2025, described President Donald Trump’s idea of taking control of the Gaza Strip, moving its population, and redeveloping it as "a scandal."
• Tunisia has a long-standing history of supporting Palestinian causes, contributing to the historical sensitivities surrounding Israel and the Middle East conflict.
• The rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt has broader geopolitical implications in countries like Libya, but it does not directly relate to the specific controversy involving Germany and Tunisia.

[1] "German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lambasts Trump's Gaza plan," Sputnik News, accessed: March 28, 2023,

[2] "I revolt against Iran and freedom for Palestine is a strategic goal," Haaretz, accessed: March 28, 2023,

[3] "Tunisia: Citizens Rally Against Parliament's Proposed Draft Law on Israel," Middle East Monitor, accessed: March 28, 2023,

[4] "Egypt-Turkey Ties Improve Amid Libya Crisis," Al-Monitor, accessed: March 28, 2023,