- Israel's finance minister is reportedly willing to accept the starvation of Palestinians
The German Foreign Office and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs have condemned statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in which he regretted food aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and justified starvation as morally justified. "These are completely unacceptable and outrageous statements by the Israeli finance minister. We reject them in the strongest possible terms," said a spokesperson for the Foreign Office in Berlin.
"It is a dictate of humanity and a basic principle of international humanitarian law that even in war, civilians must be protected and have access to water and food," the spokesperson said.
Smotrich had reportedly expressed himself on the international situation of his country and justified a blockade of aid goods until the release of all hostages, even if it meant the death by starvation of two million people in the Gaza Strip. But the international community would not allow this, Smotrich said.
Arrest warrants requested against Israel's leaders
The Parisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke of "scandalous statements" and called on the Israeli government to "sharply condemn these unacceptable statements". "France recalls that the provision of humanitarian aid to two million civilians in an absolute emergency situation in a territory under blockade and whose access points are controlled by Israel is a commitment under international humanitarian law, as recalled by the International Court of Justice."
When asked whether the German government recognizes a genocidal intent ("genocidal intent") in this or evaluates these statements accordingly, the Foreign Office spokesperson said, "I am sure that these statements will also be closely monitored in The Hague, where consultations on these kinds of questions are currently taking place."
On May 21, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague requested arrest warrants against Netanyahu and other Israelis. They are accused, among other things, of being responsible for the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, as well as for arbitrary killings and targeted attacks on civilians.
The Foreign Office in Berlin and other international entities have strongly condemned the remarks made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip is a commitment under international humanitarian law, as emphasized by the Foreign Office.
