German Foreign Minister and Israeli PM Clash Over Gaza Situation in Heated Call

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a tense phone conversation regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to reports of a leaked exchange that have since been disputed by German officials.

The call came amid growing international criticism of Israel's handling of the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

During the call, Netanyahu reportedly attempted to use images to prove that conditions in Gaza are not as dire as reported, but Baerbock objected. "Baerbock criticized Netanyahu over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying the images she was shown of abundant food supplies and people sunbathing did not reflect the true situation in the war-ravaged territory," according to one account of the conversation.

In response, Netanyahu allegedly stated that Israel was "not like the Nazis" who manufactured reality. Baerbock then questioned whether Netanyahu was suggesting that doctors and international media were not accurately reporting the truth about the situation on the ground in Gaza.

The German government has pushed back against the characterization of the call as a "massive row," with the German ambassador to Israel stating that key points in the media reports were "wrong and misleading." However, officials did not specify which aspects of the accounts were allegedly incorrect.

Why this matters: The heated exchange between Baerbock and Netanyahu highlights the growing international pressure on Israel over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The disagreement also illustrates the difficulties in addressing the complex and long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has resulted in widespread suffering and loss of life, particularly among Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Baerbock has consistently expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and has called for increased aid deliveries and the safe distribution of goods on the ground. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Despite the reports of the heated exchange, a diplomatic advisor to Netanyahu claimed the meeting was "good" and downplayed concerns about famine in Gaza.

Key Takeaways

• German FM Baerbock and Israeli PM Netanyahu had a tense phone call on Gaza crisis.
• Baerbock criticized Netanyahu over images he showed of abundant food, saying they didn't reflect reality.
• Netanyahu denied Israel was like the Nazis, questioning if doctors/media were accurately reporting Gaza.
• German govt disputed the call was a "massive row," but didn't specify what was wrong in reports.
• The exchange highlights growing international pressure on Israel over Gaza's humanitarian crisis.