BERLIN, 17 Sept. - (ANA) - Germany risks being judged complicit in genocide over its support for Israel’s war on Gaza, former UN ambassador and ex-Munich Security Conference head Christoph Heusgen has warned.

 

In an interview with Berliner Zeitung, Heusgen said Berlin could face a ruling at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if it continues to supply weapons used in Israeli operations in Gaza.

 

"There is a real danger that if Germany supplies weapons to Israel that are used in Gaza, it will be convicted of aiding and abetting genocide. That would be a catastrophe," he said.

 

His remarks reflect growing unease in Germany as Israel's campaign in Gaza draws mounting international condemnation.

 

The ICJ has already ruled there is a plausible risk of genocide and ordered Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the enclave - orders critics say have been ignored.

 

The warning comes days after a UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing four out of the five acts defined in the Genocide Convention, including mass killings and the deliberate creation of conditions intended to destroy the population.

 

The finding has increased pressure on Israel’s arms suppliers, with Germany facing particular scrutiny.

 

Heusgen said Berlin must clearly separate support for Israel’s defence against external threats, such as Iran, from weapons used in Gaza. He urged an immediate halt to any arms destined for use in the enclave, warning that Germany’s moral and legal responsibilities were on the line.

 

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government recently announced that no new licences would be granted for weapons intended for Gaza. But Heusgen said it remains unclear whether already-approved contracts will be honoured.

 

Germany has long positioned itself as one of Israel’s closest allies, citing its historical responsibility for the Holocaust. But critics argue this cannot translate into unconditional support, particularly when Israel stands accused of grave violations of international law.

 

Heusgen linked Germany’s credibility to how it responds. He noted that Israel’s deepening isolation - intensified by its recent strike on Doha that killed Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer - poses risks both for regional stability and for Berlin’s reputation.

 

He also called on Germany to support recognition of a Palestinian state.

 

"If our neighbour France, as well as our close partner Great Britain, and Belgium are taking this step, then Germany should also address this issue," he told Berliner Zeitung.

 

Heusgen's intervention comes at a sensitive time for Berlin. Domestically, the Gaza war has fuelled polarisation, with large demonstrations against Israeli actions and mounting calls to review German policy. Internationally, the government faces pressure from allies and partners to adopt a more balanced stance.

 

The warning from a veteran diplomat who has shaped German foreign policy for decades underscores the stakes of Berlin’s current approach. As the Gaza war grinds on, Germany must weigh not only its alliance with Israel but also its obligations under international law - and the risk of being judged on the wrong side of it.   - (ANA) -

 

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