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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Germany's Israel policy is changing — Friedrich Merz's support for Palestinians' right to statehood is proof
Written by Ashutosh Nagda In a move that could surprise many observers of German foreign policy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has openly criticised Israel's military strategy in Gaza. Speaking at his annual summer press conference on Friday, Merz said Israel's approach to the war in Gaza was 'no longer acceptable', marking the second time in a single week that he has publicly questioned the conduct of Israel's war. Days earlier, in an interview with a German media outlet, Merz reaffirmed the Palestinians' right to statehood and expressed concern over Israel's actions in Gaza. While the remarks stop short of a fundamental policy reversal, they reflect a shift in tonality. Germany has long been one of Israel's staunchest allies, with its support rooted not just in strategic alignment but in the moral reckoning of its history. Germany's post-Holocaust relationship with Israel has always been layered with moral weight and historical obligation. Since the end of World War II, successive German governments across the political spectrum have enshrined a doctrine of 'Staatsräson' (reason of state), wherein the security of Israel is seen as part of Germany's national responsibility. Against this backdrop, Merz's remarks are noteworthy. The shift is not in Germany's foundational support for Israel's right to exist or defend itself; Merz and his government have continued to reiterate that support. What might seem to be changing, however, is Germany's willingness to draw public lines around how Israel exercises that right, particularly when civilian suffering in Gaza is mounting and prospects for peace seem increasingly remote. It is worth noting that the previous government has also attempted to persuade Israel to adopt a different approach to the war in Gaza. As chancellor, Merz might be attempting to address several audiences simultaneously: The German public, the Israeli government and his EU allies. Domestically, the comments allow him to extend a mild rapprochement, if any, to the pro-Palestinian Germans who have found themselves on the wrong end of the baton since October 7. They also act as an overall response to increasing criticism that Germany has disregarded humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Internationally, they align Germany more closely with the emerging consensus for recognising Palestinian statehood and conditioning future ties with Israel on meaningful progress toward a two-state solution. This move also furthered a broader European frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline policies. EU leaders have time and again grown wary of Netanyahu's rejection of a Palestinian state, his expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and the absence of a long-term political vision beyond military operations. Just a day before Merz's statement, Giorgia Meloni of Italy called the Israeli attack on the church in Gaza 'unacceptable', furthering her call from May urging Israel to respect international law in its military operation in Gaza. With this context, Merz's statement seems like an attempt to restore moral and diplomatic balance to Germany's Israel policy, one that still upholds Israeli security but not at the cost of Palestinian rights or EU credibility. Merz's remarks also draw attention to a deeper tension in Germany's foreign policy of upholding a consistent, values-based stance across different global crises. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Berlin has presented itself as a moral actor championing territorial sovereignty, international law, and civilian protection. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz had, in 2022, written in an op-ed that Germany would be 'doing everything it can' to foster an international order based on democracy, security, and prosperity. Berlin's leadership within the EU on sanctions against Russia, military aid to Ukraine, and the defence of democratic values has reinforced this image. Yet, Germany's relatively muted criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza has exposed accusations of double standards. Why is Russia condemned as a violator of international norms for targeting civilians in Ukraine, while Israel is shielded from similar scrutiny despite comparable devastation in Gaza? The perceived inconsistency in the German 'values' has undermined their credibility in the Global South and has fuelled the call for Western hypocrisy. Merz's recent intervention can then be seen as an effort to close that values gap and demonstrate his and Germany's commitment to humanitarian principles that apply universally. While Merz's comment is important and rare, caution should prevail. The immediate impact of this on German-Israeli relations is likely to be limited. Israel remains one of Germany's closest allies outside of Europe, and both countries share deep economic, cultural, and security ties. Thus, a shift in political and strategic mood is a distant thought, but what is potentially shifting is the rhetorical mood. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists and intensifies, Germany can be expected to make stronger statements. But will that lead to any actions, such as backing UN resolutions, supporting aid initiatives over Israeli objections, or even pausing certain arms exports? Unlikely. Within the European Union, Merz's statement could act as a bridge between the more pro-Israel northern European bloc (Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic) and southern states more vocal about Palestinian rights (Spain, Ireland, Portugal). Germany has often played a mediating role in EU foreign policy, and Merz may now be positioning Germany and, by extension, himself as a voice for restraint, humanitarianism, and diplomacy. What Merz's remarks ultimately reflect is a growing realisation that unwavering support for Israel's security cannot be a blank cheque. If Germany wants to remain a credible voice in global affairs, particularly in the Middle East, and strengthen its global south outreach, it must grapple with the contradictions of supporting a military campaign that many view as disproportionate, while also championing human rights and international law. The writer is a political analyst and German Chancellor Fellow (2023–24), based between New Delhi and Berlin. He writes on foreign policy, electoral trends, and domestic politics
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Israel kills over 30 starving Palestinians waiting for food near US group's aid distribution sites
DEIR AL BALAH: Israeli troops opened fire Saturday toward crowds of starving Palestinians seeking food from distribution hubs run by a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group in southern Gaza, killing at least 32 people, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The two incidents occurred near hubs operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. In other violence, 11 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, health officials said. The GHF launched operations in late May with backing from the U.S. and Israel. The United Nations had condemned Israel's "weaponisation of food" against the Palestinians after a three-month-long blockade of humanitarian assistance, which was partially lifted only to replace the established aid distribution systems with the GHF. Rights groups and the UN had refused to cooperate with the GHF, slamming it as a "death trap" for Palestinians and accusing it of aiding Israel in its genocidal war in Gaza. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, called the GHF an "abomination" that has put Palestinians' lives at risk, while a spokesman for the UN human rights office, Thameen Al-Kheetan, condemned the "weaponisation of food" in the territory. Nearly 900 Palestinians have been killed so far in Israeli attacks near aid distribution sites since the GHF started operations. In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, visited a Christian Palestinian village that was recently attacked by Israeli settlers and harshly criticized the violence. 'Indiscriminate fire' Most of Saturday's deaths occurred as Palestinians massed in the Teina area, around three kilometers (2 miles) away from a GHF aid distribution center east of the city of Khan Younis. Mahmoud Mokeimar, an eyewitness, said he was walking with masses of people — mostly young men — toward the food hub. Troops fired warning shots as the crowds advanced, before opening fire toward the marching people.
The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Internet outages and a 2G mobile network keep Gazans offline and silenced
EVEN BEFORE OCTOBER 2023, people living in Gaza had access to only 2G mobile internet services. Many nations, including Ireland, are now phasing out 2G networks, which have max download speeds of 50kbps, as faster networks such as 4G and 5G become more widespread. The second generation of cellular network technology was first rolled out in the 1990s, making basic mobile internet connectivity possible. For Gaza to access speeds more suitable to the modern mobile internet, Israeli authorities must approve the use of next-generation spectrum frequencies. Since October 2023, connectivity for Gazans has deteriorated still further, with intentional internet shutdowns a common occurrence . These shutdowns have been condemned by the UN as a violation of international human rights law. Some individuals manage to maintain a connection through the use of eSIMs, a software-based version of a SIM card that may reach a faint signal from a network beyond the blackout. But these are typically accessible only to a privileged few. The Palestinian Authority's telecommunications ministry claims that one of the latest three-day outages was caused by the deliberate targeting of a fibre optic cable by Israeli forces. The UN also said this was likely the result of military activity, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. Some connectivity has since been restored. Much of Gaza's communications infrastructure has been destroyed over the past year and a half, inhibiting communications with the rest of the world and disrupting emergency humanitarian operations. Palestinians are cut off from friends, family and vital updates. Riham Al Faqih, development and outreach director with Miftah, a civil society organisation in Palestine promoting democratic principles, says control of communications has long been part and parcel of Israel's occupation. Advertisement 'Israel really has full control over our internet and digital spaces,' Al Faqih said. 'They can cut, limit, interfere, impede any developments in that sector.' A recent report by Miftah outlined violations of Palestinians' digital rights committed by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The report identified internet disruptions, among other violations by the Israeli occupation, along with technological oppression, censorship and surveillance. The Palestinian National Authority is called out for inadequacies in safeguarding digital rights, as well as instances of censorship, surveillance, and intimidation targeting journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens. The process of obtaining licences to operate mobile networks is 'unjustifiably long and expensive', Miftah found. This is exacerbated by the need to obtain separate licences for each new generation of network technology – 3G, 4G and so on. 'Palestinians in the West Bank were finally able to connect to the 3G and 4G internet services just in 2018,' said Al Faqih. Freedom of expression Even if they do manage to get online, Palestinians find their freedom of expression limited. In the West Bank, Al Faqih has seen those who shared criticism of Israel's actions followed by Israeli police, prosecuted and imprisoned. She suspects that content related to Palestine is being 'shadow-banned' by social media platforms: having their content restricted or repressed without notification. A 2023 study by Human Rights Watch documented the removal and suppression of posts in support of Palestine across Instagram and Facebook. 'That's also part of the restricting and controlling of our narrative,' said Al Faqih. You feel like you're less of a human being just because whatever you say is going to be attacked, while on the other side people can say whatever they want.' Artificial intelligence Palestine has become a testing ground for surveillance technologies and the weaponisation of artificial intelligence (AI), according to Al Faqih. 'These technologies, they're developing so fast, so quickly, and they're being sold to other countries because they are tested on Palestinians and they're tested on real-life examples,' she said. Related Reads Gaza's blackouts: 'You might be killed for trying to have internet access at public points' '[Israel] has full control over our data, our identities, even our phone numbers. So they have a total database of our information, which is being used to formulate targets.' The Pegasus spyware by Israeli cyberweapons developers NSO Group came to widespread attention when, in 2021, Apple contradicted the claim that this software was used solely to target terrorists and criminals. It has allegedly been used against activists, politicians and journalists. An Israeli-developed AI-powered system called The Gospel reportedly processes vast amounts of data in order to automate recommendations for targets to attack in Gaza. A database paired with apps and surveillance cameras has been revealed to use facial recognition to track Palestinians' movements. Another combination of AI tools – Where's Daddy and Lavender – has reportedly been used by the Israeli military to find and track Palestinian targets. Lavender, which is said to analyse data to identify Hamas operatives, is operating with only a 90% accuracy rate, intelligence sources told the Guardian last year. But with 70% of the 55,000 people killed in Gaza by late last year women and children, Al Faqih says in reality, an error rate of 10% for Israel's strikes, is 'not even close'. 'Every single person in Gaza is a target,' she said. Purveyors of surveillance technologies sell them to governments on the basis of enhanced law enforcement for increased safety. 'These programmes are…not used for the safety of people, they're used for following students, activists who are speaking out against what's happening in Gaza. And we've seen it. It's not imaginary or something out of this world,' Al Faqih warned. 'Activists and parties and organisations should work to make sure that the use of AI remains within the limits of basic human rights,' she said. A full-length interview with Rahim Al Faqih can be heard on Elaine Burke's For Tech's Sake podcast. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Scotsman
Three women arrested under Terrorism Act after van driven into Leonardo building fence in Edinburgh
Three women have been arrested after a van was driven into an external fence of the Leonardo UK building in Edinburgh. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The women, aged 31, 34 and 42, were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 following the incident which happened on Crewe Road North in the early hours of Tuesday, July 15. Earlier today, activist group Shut Down Leonardo Edinburgh, took responsibility for the incident, claiming the arms company 'supplies parts for the F-35 jets and Apache helicopters used in Israel's war against the Palestinians' adding 'as ordinary people, we felt compelled to take action to protest the Leonardo's role in genocide.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On Tuesday, July 15, a van was driven into the Leonardo UK building in Edinburgh | Shut Down Leonardo Edinburgh Police Scotland's Counter Terrorism Unit are leading the investigation with the force treating the incident as 'targeted'. They do not believe there is any wider threat to the public. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Three women, aged 31, 34 and 42, have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 after a van was driven into an external fence of a business premises in Edinburgh. 'The incident happened during a disturbance in the Crewe Road North area of the city on Tuesday, July 15. Police Scotland's Counter Terrorism Unit are leading the investigation and enquiries are ongoing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are treating this as targeted, and we do not believe there is any wider threat to the public. If anyone was on Crewe Road North or in the nearby supermarket carpark during the early hours of this morning and has any relevant dashcam footage or saw anything suspicious, please contact the Police on 101 quoting reference 0416 of July 15.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
On the radio and online, Palestinians keep up with Israel's West Bank roadblocks - War on Gaza
Radio presenter Hiba Eriqat broadcasts an unusual kind of traffic reports to her Palestinian listeners grappling with ever-increasing Israeli checkpoints and roadblocks across the occupied West Bank. "Deir Sharaf: traffic, Qalandia: open, Container: closed," Eriqat reads out from drivers' live reports, enumerating checkpoints to let listeners know which of the West Bank's hundreds of checkpoints and gates are open, busy with traffic, or closed by the Israeli military. "My mission is to help Palestinian citizens get home safely," she told AFP in the radio studio in the city of Rawabi between her thrice-hourly broadcasts. "Covering traffic in the West Bank is completely different from covering traffic anywhere else in the world." The West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has long been dotted with checkpoints, but obstacles to Palestinians' movement in the territory have proliferated since the 2023 start of the war in Gaza -- a separate territory. In the West Bank, a territory roughly the size of the US state of Delaware, there are hundreds of new checkpoints and gates, but Israeli authorities do not provide updates about their status. "The army might suddenly close a checkpoint, and the traffic jam would last an hour. Or they might just show up and then withdraw seconds later, and the checkpoint is cleared", Eriqat said. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in early 2025, there were 849 obstacles restricting the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, including checkpoints, road gates, earth walls, trenches and roadblocks. 'Not a regular jam' To navigate, Palestinians often rely on minute-by-minute updates from drivers on WhatsApp and Telegram groups, some of which were created by Basma Radio to feed Eriqat's broadcasts. "We turned to taxi drivers, truck drivers, private companies and even ordinary people," said Eriqat, to create the West Bank's only traffic report of its kind. The updates were launched in October 2023 -- the same month the Gaza war broke out -- and are now broadcast by other Palestinian radio stations too. A Telegram group run by Basma Radio now has some 16,000 members. Fatima Barqawi, who runs news programmes at the station, said the team had created "contact networks with people on the roads", also receiving regular updates from Palestinians who live near checkpoints and can see the traffic from their window. Beyond the restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities, the traffic reports sometimes feature warnings about roads blocked by Israeli settlers, whose attacks against Palestinians have also risen throughout the war. It is a constantly shifting roadscape, Eriqat said, complicating even what otherwise should have been a quick drive to work, home or to see family and friends. "You might tell people the checkpoint is open now, but three minutes later, it's jammed again. And it's not a regular jam -- it could last six or seven hours," she said. Settler attacks and soldiers' 'mood' Maen, a 28-year-old video editor, used to tune in to Basma Radio to plan his weekly commute from Ramallah to his hometown of Bethlehem, but now prefers checking what other drivers have to say. "I often call a friend who has Telegram while I'm on the road" and ask for updates from checkpoints, said Mazen, who asked to use his first name only for security reasons. He has deleted Telegram from his own phone after hearing about Palestinians getting into trouble with soldiers at checkpoints over the use of the messaging app. But in a sign of its popularity, one group in which drivers share their updates has 320,000 members -- more than one-tenth of the West Bank's population. Rami, an NGO worker living in Ramallah who also declined to give his full name, said he listened to the radio traffic reports but mainly relied on Telegram groups. Yet a safe journey is far from guaranteed. Rami told AFP he recently had to stop on the way to his hometown of Nablus. "I pulled over, checked the news and saw that 100 settlers had gathered at a settlement's road junction and started throwing stones at Palestinian cars", recognisable by their green license plates, he said. And passing through a military checkpoint often "depends on the soldier's mood", said Eriqat. "That's the difficult part." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
