Middle East: “unbearable”: criticism of Israeli Gaza offensive grows

In the course of the new major offensive of Israel’s military in the Gaza Strip, international criticism – also from tight allies – increases in the Israeli approach. According to Palestinian information, dozens of people are killed in the army attacks every day. The months of blockade of auxiliary deliveries by Israel in the Gaza Strip as well as the current restrictions for imports are teased.

More and more states are losing patience with Israel-the TV station N12 speaks of “a political and diplomatic crisis, probably the most serious and difficult that (Israel) has ever experienced”. And also within Israel and the opposition, the criticism of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its procedure in the Gaza Strip is increasing.

How do foreign allies react?

Emmanuel Macron, Keir Strander and Mark Carney most recently found drastic words. The three heads of state and government of France, Great Britain and Canada spoke in an explanation of a “completely disproportionate escalation”. “The human suffering in Gaza is unbearable,” it said. If the new major offensive is not set, the three countries would react with “concrete measures”. They did not give any further details. London, however, did serious and exposed talks about a free trade agreement with Israel.

Meanwhile, the EU questioned its partnership agreement with Israel: At a foreign ministerial meeting, a majority had spoken out to check whether Israel is still adhering to the basic principles of the so-called association agreement, said EU chief diplomatin Kaja Kallas in Brussels. These include that the relationship between the contracting parties is based on respect for human rights.

What about the most important partner USA?

Such sharp words cannot be heard from the US government. On a four-day trip by several Gulf States, US President Donald Trump recently said noticeably little about the Gaza War. As before, he spoke of a “very serious” situation at a station and complained about the suffering of people in the area. At another stop, he again only dealt with his controversial idea of ​​clearing the Gaza Strip and developing economically as a real estate project. Trump primarily wants to advance shops and trade – and also reach peace there for this.

Overall, the US government has recently been observed some distance from Netanyahu. Some of the Americans pretended to be single-handedly and without coordination with Israel: for example, in direct conversations with Hamas about a hostage liberation, direct discussions with Tehran about the Iranian nuclear program or agreements about a de-escalation with the Huthi militia. Trump did not stop at his Middle East trip in Israel. In US media there is an increasing frustration in the Trump team with Netanyahu. This does not change the support of Israel.

How does Germany behave?

The new federal government is like the United States. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) reaffirmed the historical responsibility of Germany from the Holocaust last week in his government declaration for the existence and security of the state of Israel. “We are standing at the side of Israel,” he said.

Merz has commented on the situation in the Gaza Strip, but direct criticism of Israel’s military approach has not yet been heard from him. He has even explained again recently that, despite the international arrest warrant, he can imagine a visit to Netanyahus in Germany.

How does the Israeli opposition react?

So far, Israel’s opposition has been rather reserved with her criticism of warfare in the Gaza Strip. High waves now hit an interview by the left-liberal politician Jair Golan on the radio of the Kan station. There he said that Israel runs the risk of becoming an internationally outlawed “pariastic state”. He said: “A sensible country is not a war against civilians, there are no babies as a hobby and does not aim to displace the population.” Both government and opposition politicians criticized the chairman of the left party “The Democrats”. Golan used to be the head of the Israeli army.

Israel’s ex-government chief Ehud Olmert spoke up in the British BBC. He said that what Israel “is now doing in the Gaza Strip is very close to a war crime”. He described the war as “war without a goal, a war without the chance to achieve anything that can save the life of the hostages”. Innocent Palestinians and Israeli soldiers would die. This is “hideous and outrageous in every respect”.

Will Israel’s government go into criticism?

It is unclear whether the Netanyahu government will react to pressure from abroad. With regard to the aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip, however, it has been shown that massive pressure from the USA can make the government rethink. After almost three months of blockade, Netanyahu announced on Sunday to allow auxiliary transports to the area again – but only for “basic care”.

Israel’s “Best Friends in the World” had promised him any help to achieve the Israeli war goals, but for them the “pictures of hunger, mass hunger” were unbearable, Netanyahu said in a video address. There was criticism of his legal government. However, this was boxed through in the cabinet without a coordination.

The criticism from Paris, London and Ottawa rejected Netanyahu. With their joint explanation, they would offer a “huge reward for the genocide attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and at the same time invite you to other sorts of atrocities,” he wrote to Golan and Olmert: “While IDF soldiers fight Hamas, there are those who support the lying propaganda against the state of Israel.”