‘Germany could be involved in war crimes’ – Germany’s SPD politicians call for arms embargo against Israel, CDU speaks of violation of international law

There are now calls from within Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) to place an arms embargo on Israel in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with claims that Germany could be supporting war crimes.

Several SPD members of the Bundestag want to end German weapon flows to Israel. Adis Ahmetovic, foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, told Stern magazine, “German weapons must not be used to spread humanitarian disasters and violate international law. Therefore, we call on (Benjamin) Netanyahu’s government to be willing to agree to a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.”

Recent international criticism regarding Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip has intensified at the same time that reports suggest Israel is accelerating plans to occupy and potentially annex a portion of the Gaza Strip within weeks.

However, other SPD politicians have also spoken out against German weapons being sent to Israel, according to Welt newspaper. Ralf Stegner echoed this sentiment, stating, “The humanitarian catastrophe for the Palestinian civilian population and the violation of international law by the Netanyahu government must end immediately and must not be prolonged with German weapons.”

He argued that while Germany previously made an exception for Israel in its policy of not supplying weapons to conflict zones for security and defense, this reasoning no longer applies to actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

SPD MP Isabel Cademartori took these warnings a step further, stating that Germany could face prosecution by international courts for complicity in war crimes if it continues to supply arms to Israel. She urged the German government to limit arms exports, specifically by halting the supply of tank ammunition and spare parts.

Rolf Mützenich, an SPD Bundestag member and former chairman of the SPD parliamentary group, also advocated for stronger condemnation of Israel’s actions. He expressed his support for Germany joining numerous other European governments in reviewing the Association Agreement with Israel by the EU Commission. Seventeen foreign ministers endorsed this step last week due to reports from human rights organizations and the UN indicating that the Israeli military offensive could lead to the permanent displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

Mützenich cited statements by some Israeli politicians who believe their country’s security necessitates expelling the majority of the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip.

Mützenich further criticized the German government’s “inadequate” response to last week’s shelling of a group of EU diplomats in the West Bank, suggesting that summoning the Israeli ambassador would have been appropriate. He also defended the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) amidst allegations of employing Hamas members, emphasizing its critical role in addressing the catastrophic supply situation in Gaza.

However, SPD politicians are not the only ones plying the pressure on Israel. Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Israel within hours of becoming chancellor and accused the country of refusing to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. However, the CDU, his party, is split on the issue, as well as the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The AfD’s co-leader Tino Chrupalla has criticized Germany’s “one-sided” support” of Israel and called for Germany to stop sending the country weapons.

However, the CDU carries the most weight in this debate, and they are also piling the pressure on Israel.

Armin Laschet, a CDU foreign policy expert and chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, described Israel’s actions, particularly the slow pace of aid deliveries, as a violation of international law. He asserted on ZDF’s “Berlin Direkt” that “withholding food supplies, aid deliveries, and medicine deliveries for the population is not fighting Hamas” and violates international rules requiring protection and provision for civilian populations in wartime.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) described the situation in Gaza as “unbearable” on ARD’s “Report from Berlin.” He acknowledged Germany’s dual commitment to Israel’s security and the fundamental value of humanity, stressing the urgent need for rapid and effective aid delivery.

Other EU countries have gone much farther than Germany in terms of criticism. Spain, at the beginning of the week, called for an international arms embargo against Israel to address the humanitarian crisis and end the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated, “The last thing the Middle East needs right now is weapons.”

Meanwhile, consistent media reports indicate that Israel’s military plans to capture three-quarters of the Gaza Strip within weeks. The Times of Israel reported that the military aims to control 75 percent of the coastal territory in just two months. The Wall Street Journal further reported that the plan involves concentrating the Palestinian civilian population into one-quarter of the sealed-off coastal territory to “liberate Gaza from the Islamist Hamas.”

Approximately a week ago, Israel’s armed forces launched a significant new offensive, deploying all of their regular infantry and armored brigades to the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated on Sunday during a troop visit to Khan Yunis that Hamas is under “enormous pressure,” with the intensified fighting aiming to achieve the declared war goals of completely defeating Hamas and freeing the remaining hostages.

The post ‘Germany could be involved in war crimes’ – Germany’s SPD politicians call for arms embargo against Israel, CDU speaks of violation of international law appeared first on Remix News.

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