History teaches us that man learns nothing from history.
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
The latest updates prove that Germany learned nothing from its history, considering its stance on the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Germany's brutal history is marked by the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime, which led to World War II, the Holocaust, and the widespread horrors of fascism, including mass persecution and genocide of the Jews. How far have they truly come since the Holocaust, and have they genuinely learned from their history?
In a recent press conference, German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer stated that Germany does not see any evidence of genocide by Israel in Gaza over the past year. He urged people to critically evaluate media reports on the issue, including a recent article from the German newspaper Bild. Fischer confirmed Germany's strong support for Israel and denied claims about stopping arms exports to the country. However, he mentioned that Germany has asked Israel to ensure that German weapons are not used in its military actions. He emphasized that Germany's position on this issue has been clear and has been communicated in discussions with the International Court of Justice.
The statement from Fischer coincided with Israeli forces burning displaced Palestinians in their tents near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, with disturbing footage of the aftermath circulating on social media. This incident followed a separate airstrike that killed 22 Palestinians, including 15 children, at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school sheltering displaced individuals in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
On September 18, the German government denied reports that it had stopped arms exports to Israel. A spokesperson said there is no ban on these exports, which are approved case by case based on legal and political factors. This came after earlier claims that exports had been halted due to legal challenges over humanitarian law violations. A Berlin court had dismissed attempts by Palestinians to block arms exports, stating that there were no pending approvals and doubting any exports would violate international law. In 2023, Germany approved €326 million in arms exports to Israel, a big increase from 2022, but approvals dropped to about €10 million in the first quarter of this year.
Prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg last week accused Germany of threatening and silencing pro-Palestinian activists, revealing that she was warned of arrest if she entered the country. In footage shared on X, Thunberg explained that the German police threatened to arrest her if she attended a speech at the Dortmund encampment, which had been dismantled by authorities shortly after her invitation was announced.
Thunberg stated that she had participated in a pro-Palestine demonstration in Berlin the night before and criticized the police's actions, saying they equated calls for Israel to stop bombing children with anti-Semitism. She described the dismantling of the Dortmund camp as “far from the end,” emphasizing that Germany is silencing activists advocating for Palestinian rights. Thunberg urged the public to support the students' movement in Dortmund and other locations facing repression for opposing Israel's actions, pledging that they would not be silenced.
Greta Thunberg has been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian people throughout the ongoing crisis in Gaza, accusing Israel of committing genocide in the besieged region. Her outspoken support has drawn criticism, with Felix Klein, the German government’s commissioner for anti-Semitism, labeling her statements as “anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic.” Ever since, the Israeli media has been running a smear campaign, portraying Thunberg as anti-Semitic. In early September, Thunberg was arrested alongside student protesters during a pro-Palestine demonstration at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has strongly supported Israel during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, condemning Hamas and criticizing the Palestinian Authority for their silence. Despite initial public backing, sentiments amongst Germans shifted, with a December 2023 poll showing a decline in support for Israel's actions in Gaza. Internationally, Germany faced backlash for its stance, particularly from leaders like Namibia's President Hage Geingob, who labeled Israel's actions as genocidal. Palestinian lawyers filed a criminal complaint against German politicians, including Scholz, for complicity in genocide, and Nicaragua initiated proceedings against Germany at the International Court of Justice. Furthermore, Amnesty International accused Germany of taking a one-sided approach by failing to adequately condemn Israeli actions that violate international law while emphasizing its support for Israel.
Ignoring a UN Security Council resolution for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has faced global condemnation for its ongoing offensive in Gaza, which began on October 7. Currently on trial for genocide against Palestinians at the International Court of Justice, the conflict has reportedly resulted in 42,289 Palestinian deaths and 98,684 injuries, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Additionally, at least 11,000 people are unaccounted for and presumed dead under the rubble of their homes