Political Analysis
Germany’s Defense of Genocide in Gaza
A story about the cynical exploitation of nazi atrocities, and a failure to learn the right lessons from them
I can’t say that I have ever been ‘proud to be German’. That kind of patriotism is unseemly at best in Germany, even for conservatives — a political position I am miles apart from. I never had any use for nationalism, or its more common cousin, the defense of ‘Western Values’ against whatever is deemed to be outside of that norm.
To put it bluntly, I am opposed to these empty phrases. There never was any personal shame though.
These last months have been different. I have never been so ashamed to be German.
This article is in many ways an attempt to grapple with what it means to live in a state that offers material aid and international support to a genocide. I’m not sure if I have the answer to that question, but maybe there is something to be learned from exposing the cynical nature of Germany’s current stance on Israel’s war against humanity in Gaza.
Crimes against humanity
At the date of writing a minimum of 25000 Palestinians have been killed by the IDF in Gaza, with no end in sight. The true number is likely even higher, considering the total breakdown of healthcare infrastructure impacting the work of Gaza’s health ministry. The vast majority of those killed by indiscriminate bombardment are non-combatants — 70% of them are estimated to be women and children.
Pages upon pages could be filled with the atrocities committed. South Africa has done exactly that with their case accusing Israel of being in breach of the Genocide Convention before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). We will return to that later.
For now, let’s focus on Germany’s reaction.
Obfuscation and denial
In a press release on its website from the 10th of January, the German government proudly proclaims :
‘Germany stands with Israel — and works towards de-escalation’.
Specifically, the German government re-iterates that ‘Israel has the right to defend itself against these barbaric attacks’, referring to the October 7th attacks.
The victims of the Israeli ethnic cleansing and bombing campaigns, on the other hand, are understood as ‘victims of Hamas’.
Another point the neoliberal coalition government points out is its strong commitment to humanitarian aid to Gaza. The fact that Israel has been systematically cutting off that very aid is casually glossed over.
But, this is of course only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Germany is responsible for 24% of Israel’s arms imports between 2009 and 2020, only second to the United States. This goes beyond a mere defense of Israeli genocide; it is active support for it.
Have recent developments changed anything about this?
No, in fact, the exact opposite is the case. According to reports of Spiegel, one of the largest domestic news outlets, the German government is preparing to export 10000 rounds of precision tank ammunition to Israel within the next months.
There is a strong case to be made, that the shipment of arms to states conducting a genocide is in itself a breach of the Genocide Convention. Article III (e) unambiguously states:
‘The following acts shall be punishable: […] (e) Complicity in genocide’
This is a serious accusation and would open up many of the Western states to significant international scrutiny, but so far the reactions have been minimal. To understand why Germany in particular has taken this stance, let’s take a closer look at the German reaction to South Africa’s ICJ case.
The German neurosis
In its landmark ruling against Israel, the ICJ issued provisional measures against the Israeli government. The basis for this is the plausibility of a genocide in Gaza. Some say this ruling doesn’t go far enough, others see it as a good first step. That discussion goes beyond the scope of this article. The actual conclusive results will likely take years.
What is important for our purposes is this: The ICJ established that the accusation of genocide is plausible, and has demanded Israel to take immediate action.
The German government’s reaction to the ICJ case was as predictable as it was depressing, but it shows all too well what is happening here.
In a press statement from the 12th of January, the German government took a clear stance. It reiterated that Israel was conducting a defensive operation in Gaza. It also refers to the court case as ‘a political instrumentalization’ and ‘without any basis’. The ICJ disagrees with this outlook, but that hasn’t impacted the stance of the German government, quite the opposite. Germany intends to intervene as a third party on behalf of Israel.
How is all this justified? In that very same press statement, Germany mentions the special importance the Genocide Convention has for them, as the successor state of the Third Reich and the perpetrator of the Shoa. Really, and this is correct, the Genocide Convention was put in place as a reaction to the unspeakable crimes committed by Germany during the Holocaust.
The relation between Germany’s supposed commitment to upholding the memory of the holocaust and its support for the Israeli state was made even more clear by a recent statement by Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock:
Baerbock called the idea that the only Jewish state would commit genocide absurd, and without any basis. At the same time, she appealed for better access to humanitarian goods.
Germany is instrumentalizing the holocaust, to obscure the crimes Israel is committing shamelessly, and consistently. The results of this are clear:
Once again German arms and German funding are being used for genocide.
Never again!
There is a common saying in Germany, that is an important part of our ‘remembrance culture’ surrounding the holocaust and its legacy.
‘Nie wieder!’ — ‘Never again’.
It is an appeal to not forget the past, and the horrible crimes committed by Germans against Jews, Romani people, Sinti people, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ people, and many many more. More importantly, it is an appeal to never let such things happen again.
There are many issues with this remembrance culture, that frankly deserve their own article. It often minimizes colonial genocides committed by Germany, such as the genocide against the Herero and Nama people in modern-day Namibia. Often the many civilians killed by the Wehrmacht’s genocidal wars in Eastern Europe are discounted from this discussion.
But I never thought it would be used to justify another genocide, but that is where we stand now.
It is true, that Germany has a special commitment to fight against anti-semitism in all its forms. It is also true, that Germany must ensure the security of Jewish life.
That commitment does not extend to material support for a colonial state that declares itself to be the representative of Jewish people and has committed untold crimes against the Palestinian people. That does not include the suppression of organizations such as the Jewish Voice for Peace to uphold the genocide.
The Genocide Convention applies to all people equally. It can’t become a political tool to advance Western interests. I proudly say:
Never again!