Germany condemns Israeli minister's Gaza 'killings' remarks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly condemned remarks made by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for targeted killings of Palestinians in Gaza. Ben-Gvir suggested that 30 to 40 Palestinians be removed every night, adding that some individuals in the Gaza Strip do not deserve to live. Merz's official spokesperson expressed that the chancellor "strongly condemns Minister Ben-Gvir's inhumane statements, which violate international law and are unacceptable."

The spokesperson criticized Israel's plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank and emphasized the need for Palestinians to be treated with dignity, have their property protected, and receive public administration and humanitarian aid. Germany's Social Democratic Party finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, called for consequences and discussed possible sanctions at the European level.

Several countries, including Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the Netherlands, have already imposed entry bans on Ben-Gvir. Germany's Conservative parliamentary group in the Bundestag supports EU sanctions against Ben-Gvir, while the Green Party urges the federal government to impose an entry ban and advocate for similar sanctions at the European level.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Protestant Church in Germany also condemned Ben-Gvir's statements, calling them diametrically opposed to Jewish values and an attack on humanity.