In a scathing commentary, the German magazine DER SPIEGEL raises the alarm about Israel's war in Gaza turning into a political, moral and legal catastrophe with international consequences – and directly blames the German government for tacit co-responsibility.
According to DER SPIEGEL magazine, the war crimes of the Israeli army in Gaza can no longer be denied. The deaths of over 58,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and, above all, the mass starvation imposed on a blockaded population, have been documented worldwide.
The images of starving children, the testimonies of doctors, and the public statements of Israeli officials about a strategy of mass population displacement leave no room for doubt: Israel is pursuing a policy of collective punishment, outside any framework of international humanitarian law.
According to DER SPIEGEL, Benjamin Netanyahu's government has imposed a famine regime in Gaza that is aimed not only at Hamas but at the very existence of Palestinians in the territory. Even fishing has been banned for Gazans. Aid supplies have been cut off, and any attempt to provide food is fraught with danger to civilians. And all this is happening in front of the world - with the silence or passive approval of Western allies.
In this situation, countries such as France, Britain, Switzerland and over 30 other Western governments have called for an immediate halt to the war. But Germany – not. Instead, its officials openly declare: “We stand with Israel.” For DER SPIEGEL magazine, this is a betrayal of the very lessons learned from German history. Supporting a government that commits war crimes, in the name of historical support for Israel, means misinterpreting and perverting the responsibility that stems from the Holocaust: the protection of human life, human rights and international law.
The commentary emphasizes that Israel’s war in Gaza, although launched in response to the terrorist attacks of October 7, has lost all bounds of legitimate self-defense. Hamas has not yet been destroyed, the Israeli hostages have not yet been released, and there is no serious plan for the political future of Gaza. What is left is death, chaos, and space for the dreams of extremist Israeli settlers, who seek a Gaza free of Palestinians.
Meanwhile, in Israel, domestic pressure for a ceasefire is mounting, but Netanyahu continues to fight to preserve his right-wing coalition and personal power. In the Western world, fatigue and apathy towards the conflict have become the norm, but in other parts of the globe, it is becoming increasingly clear: the international community is failing.
Renowned international lawyers are now examining whether genocide is being committed in Gaza. Although this accusation is legally complex and politically heated, there is no longer any doubt – DER SPIEGEL underlines – that Israel is committing war crimes: from mass starvation to collective punishment and the systematic destruction of civilian objects. What is scandalous is that a decisive reaction from Western countries has been lacking – this is the real failure.
Germany, due to its special relationship with Israel, has instruments and influence that it can use. And it must use them. DER SPIEGEL demands that arms exports to Israel be stopped, trade benefits suspended, and political cooperation within the EU be halted as long as the war continues. It also calls on Germany to support the International Criminal Court, even if it indicts Israeli officials.
It is no longer enough for Chancellor Friedrich Merz to express his lukewarm “disapproval” of Israel’s actions. He must come out and demand an immediate end to the war. All acts of destruction, starvation, and inhumanity must end. Netanyahu must be stopped. And the world must build a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza and for a long-term political solution.
DER SPIEGEL concludes the commentary with a clear call: After the horror of October 7th and the catastrophe in Gaza, there must necessarily come a serious effort for peace and the creation of two states – one for the Palestinians and one for the Israelis. This is a huge task, but Germany cannot and must not remain passive any longer. Now is the time to act.
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