The destruction of Gaza is not only a humanitarian catastrophe, but also a violation of international law. With the looming expulsion of Palestinians, the violence will only escalate further. Germany and the EU must finally leverage all the means at their disposal to stand up for human rights.
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated drastically since Israel broke the ceasefire on 18 March and cut off access for the UN and other independent organizations to provide humanitarian aid. As Gaza lies in ruins, the Israeli army is proceeding to bulldoze the last remaining buildings. International law experts agree that this is, at the very least, a war crime; human rights organizations and Holocaust researchers speak of genocide. Germany must work with the European Union to put an end to this situation.
No food, no water, but shots fired at distribution points
The people in the Gaza Strip are starving. They have no access to water and other essentials and have “been stripped of nearly all health care”, as most hospitals are partially or completely destroyed. Civilians, especially women and children, continue to perish in attacks by the Israeli army. All fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip have ceased. The last reserves will soon be used up, with life-threatening consequences. Those who dare approach the few distribution points for humanitarian aid, operated by the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” (GHF), often find themselves under fire. The name is a farce; the system a mockery of the principles of humanitarian aid.
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced plans to cram 600.000 Palestinians into a so-called “humanitarian city” that is to be erected on the ruins of the destroyed city of Rafah. Gazans who clear a security screening will get access to this compound, which they won’t be able to leave except to go to other countries. Observers assume that by now, a great number of Palestinians are weakened and desperate enough to accept this arrangement to escape their plight.
Defense minister wants to intern 600,000 Palestinians
This plan of concentration and expulsion has provoked a public outcry, both internationally and in Israel, including former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Fifteen renowned lawyers, among them Eyal Benvenisti, who represents Israel in the genocide case that was brought before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, describe the plan as “blatantly illegal” and are calling on the government to publicly “renounce” the plan and “refrain from carrying it out”. But the protest is giving way to deafening silence, willful ignorance, and a creeping acceptance of the language and politics of violence.
Germany is committed to Israel’s right to exist as a state, which it expressed clearly in the wake of the attacks of October 7, 2023. However, adherence to international law is another one of Germany’s fundamental commitments. The German federal government should recognize Israel’s crass disregard of the Principle of Proportionality and act accordingly.
The EU and Germany must not continue to look away
In order to uphold humanity and justice, the people in Gaza must be protected resolutely, as international law and the UN Charter demand. This is the only way to ensure a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis, for one cannot succeed without the other.
Germany and the EU must stand united against the plan to expel the Palestinians and leverage all means at their disposal to facilitate a ceasefire, secure access to more and genuine humanitarian aid by restoring previous, UN-led distribution mechanisms, and to offer a political perspective for Palestine. This includes active support of the Israeli and Palestinian civil societies, which are still holding on to this vision against all odds. If we continue to look the other way and allow killings and displacement, we are betraying international law and universal human rights.
President's column
Get involved! There’s no other way to be real – thus the message of Heinrich Böll, and, to this day, his encouragement is inspiring us. With this column the Presidents of the Foundation involve themselves in current social and political debates. This column will appear each month, authored, in turn, by Jan Philipp Albrecht and Imme Scholz.