German MPs demand sanctions against Ben-Gwir over Gaza killings remarks

Senior conservative and social democrat lawmakers in Germany's ruling coalition are calling on the European Union to impose sanctions on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after he called for targeted killings in Gaza every night.

"I think there should be targeted killings in Gaza, removing 30, 40 (people) every night," Ben-Gwir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, said in a podcast episode released last Saturday. "Not just those who pose an immediate threat. No, there are people there who are not worthy of life. They should not be living. They are not even human."

The comments provoked an unusually harsh reaction from conservatives of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the "Politiko" portal reported.

"Ben-Gwir's inhumane statements can only be condemned," Jürgen Hardt, foreign policy spokesman for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) parliamentary group, told Politiko. "The EU should impose sanctions on him as a sign of the universal validity of human dignity and human rights."

Hardt went a step further, saying he was convinced that an Israeli government without Ben-Gvir and his far-right colleague, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, would bring Europe and Israel closer together.

A similar tone was taken by the German Social Democrats. Adis Ahmetović, the party's foreign policy spokesman, said that the two ministers shocked the international public long before their latest statements and called on the German government to support sanctions against both of them.

Dietmar Bartsch of the Left called Ben-Gwir's statements "deeply inhumane" and called on Berlin and Brussels to consider sanctions, including an entry ban. Markus Frohnmeier, foreign policy spokesman for the far-right Alternative for Germany, said calling for the indiscriminate killing of people who pose no immediate threat crossed a "clear line."

Green MP Marlene Schönberger called Ben-Gvir a "far-right extremist" and said his statements were "deeply inhumane," adding that they had "absolutely nothing to do" with Israel's right to defend itself and its citizens.

Politiko points out that these statements represent a significant shift in Berlin's stance. Germany has repeatedly opposed EU measures aimed at Israel, including proposed sanctions against Ben-Gvir in June, as well as restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank last month.

The imposition of EU sanctions requires unanimity from all member states, which, according to Politiko, gives Berlin significant influence over whether the Union will be able to impose them. However, Merz's government has not yet followed the MPs' lead.

The Foreign Ministry declined to take a position on Monday, while part of the government fears that imposing sanctions on Ben-Gvir just weeks before the Israeli elections on October 27 could play into his hands.