Germany asserted on Monday that it expects Israel to uphold international humanitarian law amid mounting criticism from the UN and the EU.
During a news briefing in Berlin, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer responded to a reporter's question, stating, "It is also our expectation that Israel adheres to international humanitarian law."
Deputy Chancellery spokesman Wolfgang Buechner reiterated Israel's stance, saying, "Israel has assured us that it abides by international law and that this is happening."
In a related development, the government confirmed the death of a German hostage in the Gaza Strip. The spokesman said, "According to the information available to us, we have to confirm the death of another person with German citizenship."
Israel has faced criticism from the UN, the EU, and international human rights organizations for its violations of international law.
Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that international law was being violated in the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas.
"It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation," Guterres said.
"But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he added.
The UN chief's remarks were underscored by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell who said Israel's military actions in Gaza may have breached international law.
"The right for self-defense has to be done within international law," the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said on Oct.10 following a specially convened virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers.
"Some of the actions [by Israel] — and the United Nations has already said it — cutting water, cutting electricity, cutting food to a mass of civilian people, is against international law. So yes, there are some actions that are not in accordance with international law," he said.
The Palestinian death toll from Israel's bombardment in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 8,306, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said on Monday.
"The fatalities include 3,457 children and 2,136 women, while more than 21,048 people were injured," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told a news conference in Gaza City.
The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise attack by Hamas inside Israel on Oct. 7.
