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🇩🇪 Complete Family of German Citizens Killed in Gaza – What’s the German Federal Government’s Response?

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In a heart-wrenching incident only now coming to light, a six-member family of German citizens fell victim to an Israeli bombing raid on a residence in Gaza at the end of October. The father, a Dortmund-based anesthetist, the mother, and their four children ranging from ten to under a year old perished in the attack. While the Foreign Office confirmed the family’s demise on December 11, they simultaneously stated that they “generally do not comment on individual cases.” During a federal press conference, questions arose regarding whether this statement applies universally to all instances in which German citizens are killed in potentially unlawful attacks by a state’s military on civilian targets.

The tragic incident involves the German-Palestinian Abujadallah family. The father, Yousef Abujadallah, had recently completed his specialized medical training and was scheduled to start a new position at a Dortmund clinic on November 1. Before assuming his duties, the anesthetist intended to make a brief visit to his family in Gaza. However, on October 25, he, his wife Ayah, their eldest son Salahuddin, who would have celebrated his eleventh birthday in mid-December, nine-year-old Mohammad, three-year-old Abdulrahman, and the youngest son Omar, not yet a year old, were killed in their living room by Israeli bombs.

This marks the first publicly confirmed case of German citizens being killed by Israeli bombardment of civilian targets. The media response in Germany to the incident has been rather restrained, with the exception of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, which, behind a paywall, presented biographical background information and everyday images of the deceased family members in an article titled “The Abujadallah Family Exists No More,” including statements from friends and relatives.

Despite inquiries from the Media, the Foreign Office declined to provide further details on the case or to condemn the annihilation of an entire family of German citizens or contextualize their killing from an international law perspective. The Foreign Office also refrained from commenting on the internationally confirmed use of white phosphorus by the Israeli military, a matter that has been acknowledged by numerous international organizations.

Excerpt from the Government Press Conference Protocol at the BPK on December 13, 2023:

Question by Warweg:
In the Gaza Strip, an Israeli bombardment resulted in the death of a six-member family of German citizens. The father worked as an anesthetist at the Dortmund Hospital, and the children ranged in age from ten to under a year. I was surprised to see in Monday’s protocol that while the German government or the Foreign Office confirmed this case, they declared that they would not provide any further comments on such individual cases.

My question for clarification: Am I correct in understanding that, in the case of the killing of an entire family of German citizens, the government refrains from further comments, regardless of whether the bombing is allegedly in violation of international law and conducted by Israeli, Russian, Iranian, or U.S. military?

Deschauer (Foreign Office):
Mr. Warweg, I first want to clarify the combination of various elements and allegations in your question.

Follow-up question by Warweg:
What might those be?

Deschauer (Foreign Office):
We do not a priori endorse the combination of different elements and allegations in your question; that is not what we do. My colleague addressed a question about this specific case, which is known to us, on Monday, and we provided a response. We further elaborated in a more detailed “Under Three” section, as it involves fundamental communication regarding consular cases. Due to privacy rights, we do not provide detailed information on individual cases. I would be happy to refer you to that. It was two days ago, and I believe the comprehensive answer has already been provided by the German government.

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Additional question by Warweg:
Fair enough, but you must also understand the reader of the protocol. The protocols, at least in the Foreign Office, are publicly accessible for everyone, and all one sees is: six killed German citizens; we generally do not comment on such cases. I would appreciate a clarification, preferably public and not “under three,” on whether the death of German citizens by foreign military, regardless of its origin, is addressed and communicated by the German government. Yes or no? This has not been clear from your response, at least not for me.

Deschauer (Foreign Office):
I must unfortunately return to my initial statement that I do not endorse the allegations already made in your question, and I reiterate that we cannot provide detailed information “under one” on consular cases.

We must assume, as my colleague stated on Monday, and I will reiterate it here, that a German family was killed. Furthermore, my colleague explained on Monday “under three”—which I will not repeat in the same form today—the reasons and methods of our communication. This also involves the privacy rights of individuals, and this policy applies to every case. Therefore, we do not go into further detail “under one.” I will leave it at that with a reference once again to Monday.

Question by Warweg:
To make it concrete once again: Did the killing of the aforementioned six-member German family in the bombing of a residential building align with Israel’s right to self-defense?

Deschauer (Foreign Office):
Mr. Warweg, I will not continue our exchange on this matter. We have clearly stated our position on how we communicate with the public and with Israel in internal discussions in the region, and I believe that is very clear.

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