German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has formally requested that the European Union consider imposing sanctions on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. In an interview with the broadcaster Sat.1, Klingbeil described Ben-Gvir’s recent public statements as "inhumane" and argued that such rhetoric necessitates serious political consequences.
The criticism follows Ben-Gvir’s recent demands for intensified airstrikes in Gaza. Specifically, the minister has advocated for Israel to kill between "30 to 40" Palestinians daily. Additionally, he has renewed calls for the resettlement of Israelis within the Palestinian enclave at the expense of the local population. These comments, which were highlighted in reports by Der Spiegel, have drawn sharp condemnation from senior German political figures.
Support for restrictive measures against the minister is growing within Germany. Franziska Brantner, co-leader of the Green Party, has publicly urged the German government to implement an entry ban against Ben-Gvir. Speaking to Politico, Brantner stated, "I urge the German government to impose an entry ban on this man and to advocate for similar sanctions to be imposed at the European level."
On Monday, these calls were echoed by Jurgen Hardt, the foreign policy spokesman for the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group. Hardt joined the chorus of officials demanding that the European Union move to sanction Ben-Gvir, citing his repeated remarks that advocate for the killing of dozens of Palestinians in Gaza every night.
