German lawmakers call for EU sanctions on Israel’s Ben-Gvir over Gaza killing remarks

Key Points:

• Senior conservative and social-democrat German lawmakers are calling for EU sanctions against Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir following his call for nightly targeted killings in Gaza.
• Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, stated in a podcast that 30 to 40 people should be killed every night in Gaza, including those he deems "not worthy of life," sparking sharp condemnation in Germany.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives and Social Democrats condemned Ben-Gvir’s remarks as inhumane and urged sanctions, with some suggesting that an Israeli government without far-right ministers like Ben-Gvir would improve Israel-Europe relations.
• The criticism spans Germany’s political spectrum, with calls for sanctions and entry bans from parties including The Left, the far-right Alternative for Germany, and the Greens, highlighting a significant shift in Berlin’s stance on Israel.
• Despite the pressure from lawmakers, the German government has yet to take a formal position on sanctions, partly due to concerns that sanctioning Ben-Gvir ahead of Israel’s October election could strengthen his political standing; German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will discuss the issue with EU counterparts in early September.