Pro-Palestine protester confronts German chancellor during campaign event

BERLIN

A pro-Palestine activist disrupted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's campaign speech Monday, criticizing his government's position on Gaza.

During his speech in the northwestern city of Bielefeld, a female protester stood up and shouted “You have blood on your hands” while accusing his government of complicity in Israel's genocide of Palestinians.

Scholz responded by reiterating that Israel has the right to self-defense and placed blame on Hamas for initiating the conflict with their Oct. 7 attack. He also called for increased humanitarian aid access to Gaza, and underlined that only a negotiated two-state solution could bring long-lasting peace and security both for the Israelis and the Palestinians.

The German leader is ramping up his reelection bid with a nationwide campaign tour ahead of snap parliamentary elections next month. The chancellor is conducting a nationwide tour, holding rallies and town halls to maintain his Social Democratic Party's (SPD) grip on power.

Germany has been a staunch ally of Israel and Scholz has repeatedly stated that the country bears special responsibility for Israel's security due to its Nazi past. His coalition government has faced mounting pressure in recent months over its unconditional backing for Israel, as its genocidal military actions in Gaza claimed over 46,000 lives, mostly women and children.