Gaza: Jrgen Hardt, a prominent foreign policy expert for Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. This call comes in response to Ben-Gvir's recent remarks advocating for intensified military actions in the Gaza Strip and the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Hardt expressed his disapproval of Ben-Gvir's "inhumane" statements, asserting that they warrant strong condemnation. He emphasized that EU sanctions would underscore a firm commitment to upholding human dignity and human rights. Hardt also criticized Ben-Gvir's role in the Israeli government and expressed hope that the upcoming Knesset elections in October would result in a government excluding Ben-Gvir and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Additionally, Dietmar Bartsch, a German Left Party lawmaker and member of the German-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group, echoed the call for sanctions against Ben-Gvir. Bartsch condemned the minister's remarks as "tragic and inhumane," stating that they reflect poorly on the Israeli government. He urged both the German government and the European Union to denounce Ben-Gvir's statements and consider imposing sanctions, including a ban on his entry into European territories.
The controversy arose after Ben-Gvir's call for increased Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and the killing of 30 to 40 Palestinians every night without exception. He further advocated for the reestablishment of settlements in the Gaza Strip and the displacement of its residents, actions that have sparked international criticism and alarm.