• ‘Real friends tell you the truth, even if it hurts … That’s why I’m telling all my colleagues, if you truly want to defend Israel’s interests, you must find a way to immediately stop these massacres committed by the Netanyahu government,’ says Karaahmetoglu

BERLIN

A German Social Democrat lawmaker has added his voice to the growing chorus of calls for tougher measures against Israel for its war on Gaza, urging European governments to impose transport sanctions on Tel Aviv.

Macit Karaahmetoglu, a member of the German parliament’s EU Affairs committee, said banning Israeli airlines from flying into Europe could send a powerful signal of international isolation to Israeli citizens and increase pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

“The Israeli people must become aware of the facts. The Netanyahu government is providing its citizens with misleading information about the situation in Gaza, concealing the massacres occurring there,” Karaahmetoglu told Anadolu.

He suggested sanctions should extend beyond aviation to cultural platforms: “I believe it’s important to discuss various measures and sanctions that would show Israeli citizens their country’s growing international isolation, such as banning Israeli airlines from flying to Europe or excluding Israel from the Eurovision song contest.”

Karaahmetoglu argued that only when Israeli voters see their country’s standing erode internationally will they pressure the government to change course.

“The Israeli military is committing war crimes in Gaza. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, including an estimated 20,000 children. Reports show that some of these children died from targeted wounds to their heads and chests. No human being can tolerate these. Action must be taken, and it must happen immediately,” he said.

‘Real friends tell you the truth’

The lawmaker’s comments come as skepticism mounts over US President Donald Trump’s newly announced 20-point peace plan.

While the proposal initially raised hopes, sharp criticism from far-right Israeli ministers has triggered concerns. Netanyahu also warned after meeting Trump that if the plan failed, Israel would intensify its campaign in Gaza to assert full control of the territory.

Karaahmetoglu emphasized Germany’s unique responsibility toward Israel but insisted that true friendship meant speaking out against policies that endanger its future.

“The Netanyahu government is not only committing human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza. It’s also causing great harm to the long-term interests of the state of Israel. Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the world,” he warned.

“Real friends tell you the truth, even if it hurts. That’s why I’m telling all my colleagues, if you truly want to defend Israel’s interests, you must find a way to immediately stop these massacres committed by the Netanyahu government.”

Germany’s shifting stance

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has recently toughened his rhetoric, urging Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and halting approval of new weapons exports that could be used there. However, he did not pledge to stop the delivery of weapons and equipment that were already approved.

Berlin has also stopped short of broader measures, such as suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement or sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers.

Within the governing coalition, Karaahmetoglu said Social Democrats are pressing for a stronger line, stressing that greater pressure should be applied on Netanyahu to achieve an immediate ceasefire, secure the release of all hostages, boost humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and revive efforts for a political resolution.

“Germany bears a special responsibility and holds a unique position because of the crimes committed against Jews during World War II and the Holocaust. Therefore, the German government sometimes acts cautiously, which is understandable. However, we still need to communicate clearly and explicitly to the Israeli government that their actions in Gaza are unacceptable.”