The pressure on the German government is increasing regarding its attitude towards Israel and overall regarding the rapid developments in the Middle East, especially after the chancellor’s promise Olaf Solz from the floor of the German parliament this week to continue German exports of weapon systems to Israel.

And of course after the Israeli fire at the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which seems to be confirmed. Special pressure was exerted by journalists on the representatives of the chancellery and the German foreign ministry and during yesterday’s government briefing in Berlin, regarding the government’s attitude and regarding the examination of the conditions for the arms shipments. Basic conditions for giving the green light to corresponding missions are respect for international law and international humanitarian law.

Today Amnesty International Germany accuses the German government of unilateralism in its attitude towards the war in the Middle East. As pointed out by General Secretary of the German branch of Amnesty International, Julia Duhroff, speaking to the German radio DLF, the German government does not name corresponding actions of Israel as contrary to international law, which, according to her, harms the human rights situation and hampers the work of the International Criminal Court Court.

As Duhroff points out in the DLF document, the German “state imperative” of unconditional support for Israel that governs bilateral relations (Staatsräson) should not be placed above the law. It even calls on Berlin to call again for an immediate cease-fire and to stop arms shipments, until the risk of war crimes being committed is removed.

Violent international reactions

French President Emmanuel Macron called it “absolutely unacceptable” that peacekeepers were “deliberately targeted by the Israeli armed forces” and warned that France “will not tolerate” more fire, in remarks he made during the Mediterranean Summit of EU Member States (Med9) in Cyprus. The French president also estimated that “the cessation of arms exports” used in Gaza and Lebanon is “the only lever” to put an end to the conflicts raging there. At the same time, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Israeli ambassador to Paris for explanations regarding the serious incident in Lebanon.

The ten countries, non-permanent members of the UN Security Council also expressed “deep concern” after these attacks and “underlined that any deliberate attack against peacekeeping forces constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”

Today, moreover, the Prime Minister of Ireland, Simon Harris, called on Israel to take into account the “concerns of the international community” and to “cease” the fire against the soldiers of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

Biden: Cease fire against UNIFIL

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on the international community to stop selling arms to Israel, according to the French news agency. “In light of everything that is happening in the Middle East, it is urgent that the international community stops exporting arms to the Israeli government,” he said, speaking after meeting Pope Francis in Rome. “Let me at this point criticize and condemn the attacks carried out by the Israeli armed forces against the United Nations mission in Lebanon,” Sanchez added.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Croceto also openly accuses Israel of “gross violations of international law” which are not “justified” by the invocation of any “military necessity”. In fact, as he said on Thursday night from Rome, it might be “war crimes”, with Italy asking Israel for an immediate explanation.

Yesterday, Friday, the voice of US President Joe Biden joined those of many others internationally who criticized the Israeli fire against UNIFIL soldiers. Asked by reporters: “Will you ask Israel to stop attacking UN peacekeepers?” the American president replied: “Certainly, absolutely.”

For its part, the Israeli army confirmed the incident expressing its deep regret, according to the German website tagesschau.de, the first program of German public television. According to the Israeli armed forces, the incident will be thoroughly investigated at the highest level.

Sources: DLF, dpa, ap, Tagesschau.de, RND