Hamas Spokesperson Accuses Angela Merkel of Justifying Gaza Strikes
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned former German Chancellor Angela Merkel for supporting Israel's military actions in Gaza. Qassem stated Merkel's comments legitimize strikes on civilian infrastructure and civilians, calling her rhetoric political cover. Merkel had previously called Iran and Hamas threats to Israel and defended Israel's right to self-defense, citing the October 7th attack and the challenge of fighting militants embedded in civilian areas.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem criticized former German Chancellor Angela Merkel for justifying Israeli strikes in Gaza.
- Qassem stated Merkel's remarks legitimize attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilians.
- Merkel previously identified Iran and Hamas as existential threats to Israel.
- She defended Israel's right to self-defense, citing the October 7th attack as the war's cause.
- Merkel noted the difficulty of fighting militants embedded in civilian areas like hospitals.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian group Hamas, Hazem Qassem, has sharply criticized recent public statements made by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding Israel's military actions. Qassem's criticism stems from Merkel's expressed support for the Israeli army's operations in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Qassem voiced disagreement with Merkel's position, which he claimed justified Israeli military operations. The Hamas representative asserted that such assessments legitimize strikes on civilian infrastructure, including medical and educational facilities, and actions against civilians. He further characterized Merkel's rhetoric as a form of political cover for Israeli forces.
The Hamas statement further alleged that the former chancellor's words represent a direct disregard for fundamental human rights and the national rights of Palestinians, equating her stance to complicity in severe crimes.
Earlier remarks by Merkel, in an interview, identified Iran and Hamas as real threats to Israel's existence. She emphasized that Germany's core state interest lies in the Jewish state's right to exist. While acknowledging grounds for criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government's actions in Gaza, Merkel stressed that discussions about the war must consider its root cause: the October 7, 2023, attack by militants. She also highlighted the difficulty of combating terrorists who embed themselves under hospitals and kindergartens, stating that Israeli leadership has a duty to protect its citizens.
