Israel criticizes Germany for abstention in UN Gaza cease-fire vote

BERLIN (AA) – Israel has criticized Germany for not rejecting a UN resolution which called for an urgent humanitarian truce in Gaza.

Israel’s ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, said Germany’s decision last week to abstain in the UN General Assembly vote was “more than disappointing” for his country.

“Friday’s abstention is morally wrong and history will judge this. Germany’s ‘reason of state’ means actively standing with Israel, especially in difficult times,” he told daily Rheinische Post.

Prosor said they expect from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government to honor its promise of “unwavering support” for Israel after the October 7 attacks by taking concrete actions in support of his country.

Some 120 countries in the UN General Assembly voted in favor of the resolution on Friday, and also demanded the unhindered provision of essential aid to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government was isolated in its opposition to a cease-fire, as only the US and 12 other countries backed its stance, and voted against the resolution.

Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, abstained together with several other European countries, amid growing calls from international humanitarian organizations to end civilian suffering in Gaza.

Israel has responded to the Hamas incursion by an uninterrupted campaign of air and artillery strikes on the Gaza Strip, and recently expanded its campaign with ground operations to root out Hamas.

The Palestinian death toll from Israel’s bombardment in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 8,525, according to the health authorities in the blockaded enclave.

The fatalities include 3,542 children and 2,187 women, while more than 21,543 people were injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the growing calls for a truce, saying “calls for a cease-fire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. That will not happen.”