International lawyer Philippe Sands has called for an open debate on possible violations of international law in Gaza, criticizing Germany’s reluctance to challenge Israel and stressing that criticism must remain possible, even when directed at allies.

Speaking on Sunday, while accepting the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in Frankfurt, Sands argued that international law must be applied consistently, regardless of political alliances.

He warned against selective approaches to accountability and urged Germany to speak out against violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Sands also stressed that criticism of Israeli government policies should not automatically be equated with antisemitism, emphasizing the importance of protecting open debate on questions of international justice.