Former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Mohamed El-Baradei, has sharply criticized Germany’s Israel policy in light of over 50,000 predominantly civilian deaths resulting from Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Speaking to the “Stern” the 83-year-old stated, “When people are being killed like flies and it continues and everyone knows it’s revenge, then you can’t pretend it’s self-defense. This has seriously damaged Germany’s reputation.”
El-Baradei expressed his expectation that Germany, based on its history, would take it upon itself to advocate for the prevention of a new genocide. “Defend Israel – but do not dehumanize the Palestinians” he said, as a graduate of international law who taught at the prestigious New York University for many years. El-Baradei particularly criticizes the statements of former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Regarding the current negotiations between the governments of the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, El-Baradei sees them as promising. Both sides have an interest in reaching an agreement, with Iran driven by economic reasons and Donald Trump, according to El-Baradei, primarily seeking personal glory: “He just wants to win the Nobel Peace Prize.”
When asked if he would return his own Nobel Peace Prize, which he received in 2005 jointly with the IAEA for contributions to international disarmament, El-Baradei replied, “Definitely.