The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is urging the German government to adopt a more assertive approach regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, advocating for measures including German evacuation flights. Speaking to “Stern” magazine, Adis Ahmetovic, the SPD’s spokesperson for foreign policy within the Bundestag, emphasized the need for more than temporary solutions.
He specifically highlighted the critical need for medical evacuations, particularly for severely injured children, a measure he stated has been insufficiently discussed thus far. Currently, Germany’s contribution in this area is nearing zero, according to Ahmetovic, who suggested coordinating efforts with France and the United Kingdom, who are considering similar actions. He pointed to Spain’s prior initiative from a year ago as a potential model.
Ahmetovic also criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for limiting responses to warnings. He called for increased pressure on Israel and suggested a reassessment of existing partnerships, including the Association Agreement, with the possibility of suspension. He further asserted that German weaponry should not be utilized in actions deemed unlawful under international law.
The recently approved participation in an air bridge, Ahmetovic argued, is inadequate in scale and problematic from both a technical and a political perspective. He characterized the air bridge as inefficient, citing its limited capacity for delivering aid and raised concerns about the accessibility of dropped supplies due to a lack of ground coordination. He also voiced concern that reliance on such measures risks shifting responsibility for the humanitarian crisis onto the international community while potentially obscuring the Israeli government’s obligations to provide for civilian populations as stipulated by the Geneva Conventions.