Country has seen widespread demonstrations in outrage over Israel’s war crimes in Gaza
Nearly three-quarters of Germans believe their country should exert more pressure on Israel to address the devastating humanitarian situation unfolding in the Gaza Strip, according to a Forsa survey commissioned by Stern magazine published on Tuesday.
Some 74% of respondents said they would like to see the federal government take a tougher stance towards Israel over its conflict against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.
The survey also revealed a clear divide in opinion based on political affiliation, as some 94% of the opposition Left Party voters and 88% of Green Party voters are in favor of exerting more pressure on Israel.
Among supporters of the ruling center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and their sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) and center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) parties, some 77% want the German government to do more to force Israel to ease the catastrophic humanitarian situation and end the war, which continues since October 2023.
The strongest rejection of increased diplomatic pressure against Israel comes among supporters of the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, 37% of whom questioned against applying more pressure.
Still, a majority of 61% of AfD voters are in favor of Germany taking a tougher position towards Israel.
Germany has long been a staunch supporter of Israel, with political leaders repeatedly emphasizing the country's historical responsibility to Israel stemming from its Nazi past and the crimes committed against Jews during World War II.
The country has seen widespread demonstrations, as people have taken to the streets to voice their outrage over Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
Faced with mounting public pressure, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday his government is considering stepping up pressure on Israel over the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave.
Israel has killed over 60,000 people in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. Israel's blockade of the territory has led to food shortages and deaths by starvation.
Famine is "playing out" in the Gaza Strip, the global hunger monitor Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warned in an alert issued on Tuesday.
