Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, condemned comments by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for nightly targeted killings in Gaza as 'deeply shameful and irresponsible.' Ben-Gvir said such strikes should 'remove 30, 40 people every night' and suggested some in Gaza 'do not deserve to live.' Schuster said the remarks show contempt for human life, contradict Jewish values, and damage Israel's reputation, and he publicly distanced himself from the minister.
German Jewish Leader Denounces Israeli Minister’s Call For Nightly Targeted Killings In Gaza
FILE PHOTO - President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany Josef Schuster gives an interview. (is associated with: «German Jewish leader slams Israeli minister's targeted killing remarks») Pia Bayer/dpa
Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, on Tuesday strongly condemned remarks by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advocating targeted killings of Palestinians in Gaza, calling the comments 'deeply shameful and irresponsible.'
Controversial Remarks
The comments were made during a podcast with a former Israeli hostage that aired on Saturday, when Ben-Gvir said:
'I think that targeted killings should be carried out in Gaza, removing 30, 40 people every night.'
He added that he was not referring only to militants who posed an immediate threat and said there were people in Gaza who 'do not deserve to live.'
Response From Germany's Jewish Community
Schuster said Ben-Gvir's statements showed contempt for human life and illustrated the danger posed by far-right forces. He argued the remarks are 'diametrically opposed to Jewish values' and warned they harm Israel's international reputation. Schuster concluded by explicitly distancing himself from Ben-Gvir.
Why It Matters
As a prominent Jewish leader in Germany, Schuster's public rebuke underscores international concern over inflammatory rhetoric by political figures, particularly when it involves calls for widespread violence. The episode prompted renewed debate over the tone and direction of Israeli public discourse and the responsibilities of elected officials.
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