Merz and All Bundestag Parties Condemn Ben-Gvir's Gaza Remarks, Push EU for Sanctions

Chancellor Friedrich Merz on August 19 condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's call for the nightly killing of '30 to 40' Palestinians in Gaza as 'not acceptable,' with a government spokesman saying the remarks showed contempt for human dignity and violated international law. Merz said the issue would be raised at the EU foreign ministers' meeting in early September. Vice Chancellor and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, Greens leader Franziska Brantner, and Union foreign policy spokesman Jürgen Hardt all urged the European Union to sanction Ben-Gvir, with Brantner specifically calling for a German entry ban and EU-level measures. The cross-party condemnation — spanning Merz's CDU/CSU-led coalition and opposition Greens — was unusually unified for a foreign-policy dispute. European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper confirmed a sanctions listing proposal for Ben-Gvir exists but requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states.