A leading figure within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has urged the German government to align itself with a call from 28 nations advocating for an end to the conflict in Gaza and increased humanitarian aid, emphasizing the need for consistency in adherence to international law. Matthias Miersch, parliamentary group leader for the SPD, stated in comments to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that this clear signal from the group of states is a correct stance and Germany should join the British-led initiative rather than diverging from it.
Miersch acknowledged Germany’s distinct responsibility concerning the security and right to exist of Israel, while also stressing the parallel obligation to uphold international law and protect Palestinian civilians. He argued that this responsibility necessitates consistent pressure for adherence to humanitarian international law, mirroring Germany’s approach to conflicts elsewhere. The application of double standards, he warned, would undermine Germany’s international credibility.
The humanitarian suffering in Gaza, he described, is deeply concerning, citing instances of starving children, destroyed infrastructure and attacks on those seeking aid as being fundamentally at odds with the principles of humanitarian international law.
Miersch reiterated that civilians should never be military targets and that systematic violations of international law must have consequences. He underscored that a lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a political solution, not through displacement or violence and insisted that a two-state solution must be negotiated. This position aligns with a similar statement recently made by SPD foreign policy officials Adis Ahmetovic and Rolf Mützenich.