German Lawmaker Seeks EU Sanctions on Israel’s Ben-Gvir over Gaza Killing Remarks
German coalition politicians say the EU should sanction Itamar Ben-Gvir after he urged nightly targeted killings in Gaza and made dehumanising remarks.
- On August 17, Christian Democratic Union foreign policy spokesman Jörgen Hardt called for the European Union to sanction Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, joining Social Democratic Party spokesman Adis Ahmetovi and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil.
- Ben-Gvir's August 15 podcast comments advocating for targeted killings of 30 to 40 people nightly in Gaza prompted the calls, with Klingbeil labeling the remarks dehumanizing.
- Ben-Gvir sits on Israel's security cabinet and holds significant influence over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as his party is essential to the governing coalition.
- Sanctions require backing from all 27 European Union member states; Germany previously blocked a similar attempt in June at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, though domestic pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is increasing.
- Other nations including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia sanctioned Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in 2025, while the European Commission declined to comment on August 18.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Through sanctions and a halt to arms deliveries, Israel must be forced to turn back from the path to total isolation.
Itamar Ben-Gvir is polarising in Israel as Minister of Security. Now he has called for "every night targeted killings" in the Gaza Strip. Germany is receiving massive criticism that EU sanctions could follow.
Israel's police minister has called for the targeted killing of Palestinians - in Germany this triggers massive indignation. Vice Chancellor Klingbeil calls the statements "human contempt". But there is criticism not only of him.
The Israeli police minister calls for the killing of innocent people. Germany has to respond, but the federal government is silent so far. A comment by Klaus Rimpel.
(Berlin=Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Gye-yeon = The European Union... Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Bengvir, who stated that Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip should be killed every day
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