At their 51st Ordinary Federal Delegates Conference in Hanover, 28–30 November 2025, the German Greens have changed their position on the middle East moving it much closer to the majority view within the European Green Party (EGP). This has been widely noticed in the German media.
Below is an English excerpt of the resolution addressing the situation in the Middle East.
Here you can find a summary in bullet points:
- Three core principles now guide our policy: We affirm Israel’s right to exist, the right of Palestinians to self-determination and the unequivocal role of international law and universal human rights. We uphold all three principles together and with equal importance.
- Our responsibility for Israel’s security is non-negotiable. But it does not absolve us from criticising the government when international law is violated and from drawing the necessary consequences. We explicitly condemn Hamas’ attacks of 7 October. At the same time, we condemn the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank as they violate international law.
- Antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism: We are deeply concerned about the rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism in Germany in the wake of the war in Gaza. We call on the federal government to confront this decisively at all levels.
- Humanitarian aid: We condemn the blockade of Gaza as a breach of international humanitarian law. We demand unhindered access for aid deliveries. We call for comprehensive support for UNRWA and condemn the Israeli ban of their activities. We criticise Germany’s restraint regarding the extension of UNRWA’s mandate. We demand the dissolution of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and denounce the high death toll of its activities.
- Strategies against the two-state solution: We criticise the Israeli government for its actions against the two-state solution — including by withholding tax revenues from the Palestinian Authorities and fragmenting the West Bank. We insist on the goal of a two-state solution.
- Settlements: We demand implementation of Resolution 2334 and the ICJ advisory opinion. We demand a full and immediate halt to all settlement activities. We call for a clear position from the federal government.
- Peace plan: The peace plan must now be implemented, including the disarmament of Hamas, international security for Gaza, the withdrawal of the Israeli army, and the handover to the Palestinians. There must be no renewed displacement, reoccupation, or territorial reduction.
- Recognition of Palestine: A two-state solution requires the recognition of Palestine, including by Germany. We call on the federal government to join the process initiated by France and Saudi Arabia and recognise Palestine as a priority of our regional policies.
- Role of the EU: The EU must take an active role in the peace process and consistently use its diplomatic instruments. Only together can Europe act effectively.
- Arms exports: Arms exports must be strictly controlled. Reliable end-use controls are necessary. We call for the reinstatement by the German government of the export ban on weapons that could be used in violations of international law in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Support for the PA: We promote institution-building and reform processes. We demand concrete progress from the PA. We call for the release of withheld revenues by Israel. We call for an international reconstruction conference, which Germany has pushed for.
- Sanctions against settlers: We call for expanding sanctions against settlers and imposing consequences on companies that profit from settlement construction. We also advocate sanctions against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir.
- Association Agreement: The federal government must no longer block joint European action. If Israel continues to violate its obligations under international law, Germany must support the push for a partial suspension of the EU Association Agreement at the EU level.
- International justice: We stand with international courts. We call on the federal government to support the International Criminal Court and protect it from political pressure.
- Civil society: We support Israeli and Palestinian civil society working for human rights, the rule of law, and dialogue — financially and politically.
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Resolution (provisional) For peace in freedom. Acting consistently in a European spirit.
Excerpt: Peace in the Middle East – line 499 to 878
Date of resolution: 29 November 2025
Agenda item: Foreign policy – Ukraine and the Middle East
Peace in the Middle East
Our foreign policy is guided by an awareness of our history and the responsibility that our country has incurred with the horrors of the Second World War and the Shoah. Israel’s right to exist as a secure homeland for Jews is non‑negotiable for us. Equally non‑negotiable is the Palestinians’ right to self‑determination and our clear commitment to international law, the dignity of every human being and universal human rights.
We are guided by the principle of human security, which centres on the security of the individual and recognises that the security of Israelis and Palestinians is inextricably linked. Our commitment to these principles must also be visible and effective in the Middle East – only then will our advocacy for a rules‑based world order be credible.
Whether Europe can play a constructive and effective role in a future peace process will depend largely on whether we live up to this aspiration.
Our responsibility for the security and Israel’s right to exist is part of the German reason of state and means recognising threats and making the security of Israeli citizens a basis of our actions. Israel has the right under international law to defend itself against attacks and the duty to protect its citizens within the framework of international law. We condemn the ongoing threat to the State of Israel from state and non‑state actors, as well as the attacks and terror against its population.
The commitment to Israel’s security as part of the German reason of state does not mean that support for the Israeli government takes precedence over obligations to international law and the protection of human rights. We must clearly identify and criticise violations of these principles and advocate for appropriate consequences. The security of Israel, the desire for peace and the demand for international law, human rights and self‑determination for all people in the region go hand in hand.
The security of the Palestinians and the protection of their rights, their life and liberty are essential parts of our policy and obligations under international law. This includes realising the Palestinians’ right to self‑determination and to guarantee their protection from violations of international law and arbitrary violence, whether by Israeli settlers and security forces, or by Hamas and other Islamist terrorists. We condemn the ongoing disregard for their fundamental rights. As occupying power, the Israeli government bears primary responsibility under international law for the protection of the Palestinian civilian population in the occupied territories.
On 7 October 2023, Hamas carried out a terrorist attack on Israel with unbelievable violence and brutality. More than 1,200 people were murdered, accompanied by unspeakable sexual violence. 251 people were abducted. Families and children were killed in their homes in a cruel way, as were young people dancing at a festival. Thousands were injured. It was the worst anti‑Semitic attack on Jewish life since the Shoah, an attack on Israel’s right to exist and on Israeli society as a whole. It has deeply traumatised the people of Israel and people far beyond, especially Jews worldwide. The attack by Hamas has shattered the promise that Jews, after centuries of recurring exclusion and persecution, would finally find a safe home in the State of Israel. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the victims and their families. We continue to remember this day and the suffering that the Hamas terrorist attack continues to cause to this day.
In response to 7 October, the Israeli government has waged a war in Gaza, the humanitarian consequences and military means of which are disproportionate and contrary to international law. Nothing can justify this action – not even the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas. It has caused immeasurable suffering and trauma inflicted on the people of Gaza: estimates on the number of fatalities range from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand. In addition, hundreds of thousands were injured, cities destroyed – 80 per cent of the building stock in ruins. Infrastructure from residential buildings, hospitals and schools, and even water and electricity supplies has been destroyed. There has been mass displacement, attacks on humanitarian aid workers and journalists, and a generation robbed of its future. The suffering of the civilian population in Gaza fills us with deep sorrow.
Hamas’s ruthless warfare and reign of terror have also contributed to this suffering. This includes the misuse of civilian infrastructure, ongoing rocket terror and executions of Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel. The mistreatment of abducted hostages – including torture and sexualised violence – is an expression of a profound disregard for human dignity.
We condemn all these crimes in the strongest possible terms. Human rights violations must never be relativised or justified.
Since 7 October, antisemitism has become increasingly overt and anti‑Semitic crimes have increased significantly. The protection of Jewish life in Germany and worldwide is an obligation for us. We take decisive action against any form of antisemitism in our society, whether it comes from the right, the left, Islamists or the middle of society. Jewish people must be able to live in safety.
In Germany there is also resentment against people with Arab or Muslim backgrounds, accompanied by anti‑Muslim racism. The Council of Europe has criticised Germany for infringements of freedom of expression and excessive police violence in the context of pro‑Palestine demonstrations. This criticism must be taken seriously.
Jews must be able to live in safety, as must Muslims or people of Arab origin. The fight against all forms of discrimination, antisemitism and anti‑Muslim racism is a task for society as a whole and must be urgently intensified at all levels. We oppose any form of exploitation of the war in the Middle East for antisemitic or anti‑Muslim agitation, as well as for restrictions on fundamental rights, and we are committed to create safe spaces for discourse and maintain the freedom of expression.
The targeted attacks by the Yemeni Houthis, Hezbollah and Iran after 7 October have led to further deaths and have displaced people from their homes. We condemn the continued violence and attacks by these actors. Hamas, the Iranian regime, Hezbollah and other militant groups overtly display their desire to destroy Israel. They deny Israel’s right to exist. We will never accept this. At the same time, military operations such as the Israeli attack on Hamas representatives in Qatar violate the territorial sovereignty of third countries, violate the prohibition of violence enshrined in international law and jeopardise the mediating role of these states in a peace process.
The Israeli government’s blockade of humanitarian aid and the starvation of the civilian population is a serious breach of humanitarian international law and has led to a famine confirmed by the United Nations. War crimes such as attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, humanitarian aid workers and journalists have been documented by the United Nations and NGOs in Gaza. Humanitarian access is still restricted and is being misused as a means of political pressure. Independent press coverage has been made considerably more difficult by the restrictions imposed on journalists.
Germany has a responsibility to fulfil its humanitarian duty in the region. Priority must be given to ensuring rapid, safe and unhindered access to relief supplies. To this end, it is essential to rebuild functioning UN distribution structures in Gaza. Humanitarian actors are providing urgently needed assistance under extremely difficult conditions – they must finally be able to do their work safely and without hindrance. We condemn the Israeli government’s ban on UNRWA and call for an immediate end to the restrictions, as well as full access and sufficient funding for its vital work. It is scandalous that the German government did not support the extension of the UNRWA mandate in the UN General Assembly for the first time – all the more so in the midst of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. For us, it is clear: as long as there is no lasting solution to the conflict, the mandate of UNRWA is essential.
Humanitarian aid is a moral imperative and is bound by the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality. We call for the dissolution of the so‑called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which acts contrary to these principles. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the course of its distributions. There must be no politicisation of humanitarian aid or influence by Hamas and other terrorist groups on humanitarian aid.
The specific violence and threats in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel have far‑reaching consequences, especially for children. The children in Gaza are among those who suffer most severely. Seeing and healing their deep wounds is now one of the most urgent tasks for all those who care about humanity, reconciliation and peace. Vulnerable persons must be able to be taken in by relatives living in Germany. In addition, we welcome the offer made by German cities, municipalities and federal states to take in and treat injured children from Gaza. It is scandalous that the German government is blocking this initiative. We call on the SPD in the German government to show integrity and empathy in this matter.
Despite the ceasefire in Gaza we must not turn a blind eye to the escalating violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settler violence, often supported by the Israeli government and army, illegal settlement construction and the accompanying expulsions and annexation plans in the West Bank have increased massively. Residents report daily waves of attacks, violence and hate messages.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been brought to the brink of bankruptcy by the withholding of tax and customs revenues. The increasing fragmentation of the occupied Palestinian territory is destroying the geographical basis for a two‑state solution and violates applicable international law. We condemn this action by the Netanyahu government, which is partly composed of extreme right‑wing elements. We condemn that the policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu have for years been contributing significantly to making a Palestinian state impossible and undermining a two‑state solution.
We firmly uphold the rule of law. Germany must distinguish more consistently than in the past between the territory of the State of Israel and the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 and send a clear message that unilateral border changes will not be recognised. We expect the Federal Government to clearly commit to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016, which calls for an immediate and complete halt to illegal settlement activities, as well as the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, which considers Israel’s occupation policy in Gaza and the West Bank as contrary to international law.
More and more UN agencies, human rights organisations and independent media are reporting on severe mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody since the beginning of the Gaza war – including torture, sexualised violence, solitary confinement and the greatly expanded use of administrative detention without charge or due process. These practices contravene fundamental human rights and rule of law principles. We strongly condemn these violations and call for independent investigations, access for international observers and an immediate end to arbitrary incarcerations which violate human rights.
Today, almost two years after the escalation began, there is hope for an end to the war and peace. The peace talks in Egypt have led to the release of the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. After two years in the hands of Hamas, the surviving hostages were finally able to return to their families. Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza can finally hope for an end to the attacks and the humanitarian crisis. We share this joy and relief. And it was a day of mourning for the deceased hostages, not all of whom have been returned to their families to this day – we share their pain as well as the pain of the people in Gaza whose relatives have lost their lives under the rubble of Gaza or in unexplained circumstances in Israeli custody. As part of the peace process, everything must now be done to ensure that the ceasefire will be maintained.
The peace plan must now be implemented. The next step is the disarmament of Hamas, the securing of Gaza through international support, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and the transfer of responsibility to the Palestinians. The following remain our guiding principles: Gaza must no longer pose a threat to Israel’s security. The Palestinians must not be expelled from Gaza, and there must be no reoccupation or territorial reduction of Gaza by Israel. We need a common perspective for Gaza and the West Bank; otherwise, Palestinian statehood is inconceivable. The occupation of the West Bank, which violates international law, and the annexations must be ended. There can be no solution to the conflict without Palestinian involvement. They must not only participate in the political process, but also shape it decisively in their interest. It is important that the neighbouring Arab states also commit themselves jointly to a political perspective.
However, this process also requires the goal of lasting peace and security for all people in the region. Our goal remains a negotiated two‑state solution, in which the State of Israel and a sovereign, democratic and viable State of Palestine live side by side in peace and security. Accompanying and supporting them on this path is a central task and responsibility of German foreign policy. Only a two‑state solution will bring a just and lasting peace and fulfil the right to self‑determination of both peoples: the continued existence of Israel as a secure homeland for Jews and the creation of a sovereign State of Palestine. A central element for equal negotiations on a two‑state solution is the recognition of the State of Palestine, including by Germany. In the current peace process, recognition by Germany must have priority. The Palestinian Authority must be in charge of the entire Palestinian territory, with appropriate international support. Hamas and other terrorist groups must not play any role in this. We call on the Federal Government to join the process initiated by France and Saudi Arabia. Germany must not isolate itself internationally.
Israel and the Palestinians need the help of the international community to create the conditions for peace, because the road to peace is a long one. The EU must play an active role in the upcoming peace process and use all the levers at its disposal. The same applies in the Middle East: only a strong and united EU can develop the necessary diplomatic weight to act effectively and contribute to peace in the region. We consider this to be necessary and also see it as being part of Germany’s interest in a peaceful region and rules‑based international order. The German government must not stand on the sidelines and slow things down, but instead must play a constructive role in developing a common European policy on the Middle East. Within this framework, member states can also make use of their individual relations in the region more effectively.
Israeli and Palestinian peace forces and human rights defenders have long warned that attempts to manage the conflict without securing the fundamental rights of Palestinians are doomed to failure. Nor can a normalisation of relations between Arab states and Israel make a lasting contribution to stability in the region if these issues are ignored. International mediation must therefore work towards a just, self‑determined peace process that paves the way for an end to the occupation and mutual recognition of two sovereign states on the basis of the 1967 borders and includes civil society. At the same time, we support steps towards a more comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including through regional dialogue formats.
It is the applicable law that, as a matter of principle, no deliveries of arms and armaments should be permitted if there is a clear risk of their use in violation of international law. In order to effectively implement this law, Alliance 90/The Greens have for years been calling for reliable mechanisms to account for the use of weapons supplied to all countries. This also applies to Israel. At the same time it is also our responsibility to provide military support, if necessary, for the defence of Israel and its citizens against attacks and threats from actors such as the Iranian regime, Hezbollah, the Houthi militias, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Whether German weapons are used for self‑defence or, for example, to expel the Palestinian civilian population, is not always easy to verify. But if we want to live up to our responsibility for the security of Israel and international law, we must make this differentiation. Against this background, Germany has rightly stopped granting new export licences for the export of arms and military equipment to Israel that could be used in defiance of international law in Gaza. Assurances that military equipment supplied will be used in accordance with international law cannot override the ban on enabling operations that are in fact contrary to international law. The decision of the Federal Government to lift the export restrictions again is inappropriate in view of the extremely fragile ceasefire and developments in the West Bank. In view of the documented violations of international law by the Israeli army, we demand that the restrictions be reinstated and, in addition to Gaza, also focus our attention on the West Bank and the Golan Heights. Germany must comply with its legal obligations as a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and act according to its national implementing legislation. We will use all parliamentary means at our disposal to ensure that the Federal Government strictly complies with these obligations and that their implementation and compliance by the Israeli government are effectively controlled.
Germany should continue to promote efforts for Palestinian statehood in practical terms in order to realise the Palestinians’ right to self‑determination – by supporting the establishment of institutions based on the rule of law, training the administration and judiciary, promoting democratic processes and economic prospects. The PA has long blocked the political development in the West Bank, allowing corrupt structures to emerge, thereby undermining democracy. The PA must therefore now make concrete progress in the promised reform process. We welcome signals in this sense such as the decision to abolish the so‑called Martyrs’ Fund and replace it with a needs‑based social security system. The Israeli government must release the customs and tax revenues withheld from the PA. We welcome the fact that Germany has joined the twelve states that pledged financial aid to the PA in September 2025, and call on the Federal Government to continue this support consistently and to accompany the reform process constructively. A reconstruction conference for the Gaza Strip should be promoted decisively by Germany. In doing so, it must be ensured that the needs of the citizens of Gaza are at the centre of attention – and that Israel’s security is maintained. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who lost their homes in the war urgently need shelter and hope. In particular, the protection of women and queer people must be taken into account.
A credible commitment to a two‑state solution also includes steps against those who deliberately undermine it. The German government must support the fight against the terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah and other Islamist groups. In doing so, it is also important to focus more closely on support structures in Germany and to prevent the financing of terrorism from Germany.
Pressure on the Iranian regime and its brutal repression of human and women’s rights and, at the same time, on its threats to Israel and its destabilisation of the entire region must be massively increased. We continue to advocate for the legally secure listing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at EU level and clear sanctions against the regime. Germany must now first and foremost exert pressure on the Netanyahu government to stop the construction of settlements and annexation plans, which are contrary to international law. There is now a need to extend sanctions against violent settlers and to consistently implement the principle that advantages enjoyed by Israel over other third countries should not benefit the settlements, settlers and companies operating there. Companies that profit from settlement construction must also face consequences. Financial and economic cooperation between the EU and Israel must not benefit the settlements in any way. Furthermore, we advocate sanctions against the Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben‑Gvir. Germany must finally abandon its blockade in the European Council on this issue.
The EU Association Agreement contains strong incentives to comply with international law. According to Article 2 of the Agreement, mutual respect for human rights and democratic principles is an essential element of close cooperation between Israel and the countries of the European Union. We deem it necessary to apply this human rights clause. The German government should no longer block joint European action and clear the way for a partial suspension of the agreement if Israel continues to fail to fulfil its obligations under international law. This must not affect cooperation with Israeli civil society and research as important bridges between our closely connected societies.
The peace process also includes the legal and political investigation of war crimes. German and European policy on the Middle East should actively promote that violations are investigated and punished in a transparent manner. We stand by the side of the people defending the rule of law in Israel, hundreds of thousands of whom are taking to the streets to preserve an independent judiciary. In addition, international jurisdiction – in particular the International Criminal Court (ICC) – plays a central role when a state is unwilling or is unable to seriously conduct investigations or prosecutions itself. We call on the Federal Government to increase its support for the ICC in order to effectively protect it from sanctions and delegitimisation campaigns and to strengthen compliance with the Rome Statute, also with regard to the arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. This process also requires independent media coverage and free access for the press and UN‑mandated commissions of inquiry. We call for immediate unrestricted access for independent international journalists to the Gaza Strip.
But politics alone is not what counts now. The path to peace needs the support of a strong civil society. We stand in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian civil society, which is working for human rights, the rule of law and dialogue, an end to the occupation, equality and mutual recognition. They play a key role in achieving a sustainable peace and defending democratic institutions. We call on the Federal Government to strengthen this civil society, both in Israel and in Palestine. We reject the restrictions on the work of civil society organisations and the defamation and criminalisation of their activities. This includes, for example, the Israeli government’s planned taxation of foreign public funds for NGOs.
We also strongly oppose calls for boycotts that exclude Israeli or Palestinian scientists, cultural figures, athletes or representatives from civil society and the economy. These efforts affect society as a whole – not least those who are fighting for democracy and peace – and hinder mutual understanding. Palestinians who exercise their right to peaceful protest and are threatened by Hamas and international terrorist networks need our protection. We share core values with Israel, even though the democratic rule of law is under pressure. We stand alongside those who are committed to Israel’s democratic constitution and the protection of its population from the dismantling of the rule of law, freedom of expression and democratic structures, just as we support all those who want precisely these values for a Palestinian state.
Discussions about Israel and Palestine have become increasingly polarised in Germany over the past two years. It is our duty as a political party to create spaces for differentiated and respectful debate at all levels and to involve both Jewish and Palestinian communities. As a party, we must show that there is no contradiction between clearly opposing antisemitism and anti‑Muslim racism, and at the same time standing up for human rights, international law and a just peace in the Middle East.