BERLIN 

More Germans are critical of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and calling for a permanent cease-fire with Hamas, a survey published on Tuesday has shown.  

Some 43% of Germans said they believe that Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip has gone too far, while only 27% approved its military operations. 

The poll also found that many Germans are in favor of diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict and broker a truce between Israel and Hamas. 

As many as 45% of those surveyed said they agree with the calls on Israel to negotiate a permanent cease-fire with Hamas, while 25% of the respondents opposed and argued that this would further strengthen the Palestinian group. 

The survey results were published as part of the Security Report 2024, an annual study by the Centre for Strategy and Higher Leadership. 

Despite growing public pressure, Berlin remains one of the strongest supporters of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly said that his country bears special responsibility for Israel due to its Nazi past. 

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, killing at least 26,637 Palestinians and injuring 65,387. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack. 

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

In late 2023 South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under the 1948 Genocide Convention. 

The UN court, in its interim ruling last week, ruled that South Africa’s claims are plausible. It ordered provisional measures for Israel’s government to desist from genocidal acts, and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.